Manslaughter costs have been laid in opposition to the proprietor of an Previous Montreal constructing that burned down three years ago, killing seven individuals who have been inside it and injuring 9 others.
Montreal police mentioned in a information convention Wednesday that following investigations into the fireplace, Emile Haim Benamor, 63, was arrested.
In line with court docket paperwork obtained by World Information, Benamor wasset to look in court docket on Wednesday afternoon.
The involuntary manslaughter costs are in connection to the deaths of 18-year-old Charlie Lacroix, 18-year-old Walid Belkahla, 31-year-old An Wu, 31-year-old Saniya Khan, 31-year-old Dania Zafar, 35-year-old Nathan Sears and 76-year-old Camille Maheux.
A hearth ripped via the heritage constructing on March 16, 2023, killing seven folks — six of whom have been staying in unlawful short-term leases.
“The date of March 16, 2023, will ceaselessly stay in our collective reminiscence,” mentioned SPVM Chief Insp. David Shane.
Shane mentioned they labored with varied businesses to get better the victims and thru its investigation, decided 22 folks have been within the constructing when the fireplace broke out.
Six folks escaped unhurt, 9 have been injured and 7 have been killed.
Get every day Nationwide information
Get every day Canada information delivered to your inbox so you may by no means miss the day’s prime tales.
“The households of the deceased victims, the wounded victims and people who escaped unhurt have been knowledgeable of this main growth by our investigators instantly following the arrest,” Shane mentioned. “We’re conscious that they’ve been ready for solutions for a really very long time. We hope that this growth will, to some extent, alleviate their struggling.”
The court docket paperwork present Benamor additionally faces costs of prison negligence inflicting bodily hurt in connection to eight folks.
Shane mentioned within the first months after the fireplace, “all efforts” have been targeted on investigating the trigger. In August 2023, unintentional causes have been dominated out following take a look at outcomes.
Police have mentioned that traces of an accelerant have been discovered on the scene and will clarify how the fireplace unfold so shortly.
Two separate prison investigations are being carried out by the SPVM into the fireplace. The primary, led by the Main Crimes part, is concentrated on the intentional setting of the fireplace. The second, led by the Arson and Explosives unit, is concentrated “on the proprietor’s negligence in managing the constructing and its affect on the unfold of the fireplace, the deaths and the accidents,” Shane mentioned.
Requested why it took three years to put costs, Shane mentioned the “complexity of the case made it a bit longer.” He additionally mentioned police wanted to seek the advice of with specialists coping with the constructing’s situation and its affect on the unfold of the fireplace.
He made it clear that the costs laid are associated to the state of the constructing and the administration and its affect on the fireplace’s unfold.
“We aren’t accusing of getting put the fireplace,” Shane mentioned.
The investigation into the intentional setting of the fireplace stays open, he added.
The inspector was additionally requested why an announcement of the costs didn’t come on Monday, the third anniversary of the fireplace.
“We did the arrest as quickly as we may,” he mentioned. “So there’s totally different steps that have to be carried out. We have to have the choice, we would have liked the arrest warrant, there was a sure timing that’s wanted for an arrest as properly … After all it might’ve been even higher if we did it just a few days or per week earlier than, however that’s the place the timing ended.”
© 2026 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.