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

Vancouver home sales plateau after highs in March

The board says new homes have continued to be built during the pandemic, with a specific focus on projects for the rental market. It says Metro Vancouver's job market continues to recover, but the recovery will be slower in the future.

Vancouver home sales plateau after highs in March

Man killed in Vancouver Downtown shooting at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel identified as Amandeep Manj.

The 35-year-old was found dead in a vehicle in the underground parkade of the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel yesterday afternoon. Officers and paramedics attended and he was pronounced dead on scene.

Man killed in Vancouver Downtown shooting at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel identified as Amandeep Manj.

Five Eyes ties still strong, Canada insists

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the agreement will have no impact on the Five Eyes partnership, which comprises the three AUKUS players, plus Canada and New Zealand.

Five Eyes ties still strong, Canada insists

COVID-19 vaccines given new monikers in Canada

Health Canada points out the vaccines themselves are not changing — only the names are. The new names are already being used for promotional purposes in the EU and the United States.

COVID-19 vaccines given new monikers in Canada

Alberta schools scramble to meet new COVID rules

The schools include University of Alberta and MacEwan University in Edmonton, the University of Lethbridge, Mount Royal University in Calgary and the University of Calgary.

Alberta schools scramble to meet new COVID rules

Killed a family: Mass murderer denied parole

David Shearing, who now goes by the name David Ennis, shot and killed George and Edith Bentley; their daughter, Jackie; and her husband Bob Johnson, while the family was on a camping trip in 1982 near Wells Gray Provincial Park, about 120 kilometres north of Kamloops, B.C.