A Port Moody man accused of killing his wife and setting fire to the family home, forcing his children to flee, during a domestic dispute in 2016 has pled guilty.
The 47-year-old is expected to be sentenced today (Wednesday) following last week’s joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers recommending a sentence of 18 years less time served.
Dan McLaughlin, communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service, told The Tri-City News that guilty pleas on charges of manslaughter and arson causing bodily harm were entered on Feb. 8.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at around 1:30 p.m. on July 10, 2016, when police were called out to a home in the 3300-block of Dewdney Trunk Road. Officers were responding to a call of a domestic dispute but arrived to find the home engulfed in flames, with two adults still inside.
Police were able to retrieve the occupants, which included the wife, who was suffering from extensive burns over her body. She was taken to hospital, where she died of her injuries later in the day.
The children were home at the time of the fire but managed to escape the flames by climbing out of the house from the second floor with the help of neighbours.
“This incident is one that is tragic beyond words,” Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said at the time. “Despite the intensity of the fire, the children, with assistance from the general public, managed to escape the burning home with minimal physical injuries. Thank you to the public who assisted with this rescue.”
Residents in the area told The Tri-City News at the time that the family mostly kept to themselves but two neighbours said they had seen police called out to the home before.
The number of children, their ages and names are protected under a publication ban along with the name of the wife.
The man is expected to appear in New Westminster Supreme Court today for his sentencing.
@gmckennaTC
