National

Charges laid in fatal Prince George motel blaze

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Sep, 2021 12:47 PM

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Charges have been laid in connection with a fire that killed three people at a motel in Prince George, B.C.

RCMP say 35-year-old Justin Aster is charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and two arson-related offences.

Court documents show he is well known to police and made his first appearance at a court in Williams Lake on Friday, when he was ordered to remain in custody until his next date on Thursday.

Three people died in the fast-moving blaze at the Econo Lodge Motel on July 8, 2020.

Several guests of the downtown motel narrowly escaped when flames broke out just before 9 a.m.

Cpl. Jennifer Cooper called the deaths tragic and says officers are proud to have brought a suspect forward to the courts in connection with the fire.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau links global detention initiative to China

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada spearheaded an international declaration denouncing state-sponsored arbitrary detentions because of China's decision to imprison Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Trudeau links global detention initiative to China

Fire destroys logs, mill saved in Chetwynd, B.C.

The mill is not at risk and the statement says the fire has been contained to the log yard while firefighters from several area departments work to stop its spread.

Fire destroys logs, mill saved in Chetwynd, B.C.

B.C. offers to help Alberta with COVID-19 effort

Premier John Horgan says the province is willing to help Alberta when it comes to battling COVID-19, but the priority is on ensuring hospitals in British Columbia don't become overwhelmed.

B.C. offers to help Alberta with COVID-19 effort

B.C. warns of landslide risk during heavy rain

The Ministry of Transportation announced Highway 1 was being closed starting at 4 p.m. on Friday between Spences Bridge and Lytton, most of which was destroyed by a wildfire in late June.

B.C. warns of landslide risk during heavy rain

768 COVID19 cases for Friday

There are currently 6,031 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 169,653 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 298 individuals are in hospital and 135 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

768 COVID19 cases for Friday

Leaders ask voters to cast ballots on Sept. 20

Speaking in the border city of Windsor, Ont., Trudeau says the policy debates Canadians have had over the past five weeks will underpin the next government's agenda.