An expert chemist wrapped up testimony this morning at the double murder trial of Benjamin Ronald Marki.
Robert Hong-You told court about a number of items from the Brant Street home that had gasoline on them including a pair of Marki’s shoes.
Defence lawyer George Josef cross-examined the witness asking him if he could say how long the gas had been on the shoes and where it was on the pair. He couldn’t say exactly how long the gas had been on the shoes or where.
50 year old Anne Chuchmuch was found dead inside the house in December of 2015, while at the time police reported that 60 year old Wilfred Charles Pott died later in hospital.
Marki was renting a room from them at the time and faces two charges of murder, arson with a disregard for life and indignity to a dead body.
Later in the morning fire investigator Jason Williams testified that the fire originated in the utility room on the main floor of the home. Ann Chuchmuch was found lying on her back on the floor of that room with a melted gasoline container near her right shoulder.
Williams went on to say that the fire was localized to that room and that it didn’t have enough in it to cause the fire, that gas was needed to support it.
He testified that gas was intentionally introduced.
Chuchmuch’s clothing and the container found near her both tested positive for gas.
Another week is set aside for this jury trial.
