Niagara Falls man to return to court in June for sentencing for arson

A Niagara Falls man who set fire to the home of woman whom several witnesses described as “the neighbour from hell” will return to court in June for sentencing.

Victor Pitt, 27, had been found guilty of arson in March in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines.

At a hearing Wednesday, defence lawyer Cormac Donovan told Judge Joseph De Filippis his client did not intend to endanger the occupants of the Chippawa townhouse complex.

“Isn’t there a disregard for human life when you set fire to a front door when you know a person is in there?” the judge asked.

The lawyer replied the evidence indicated the fire was minor in nature and Pitt did not intend to cause the woman any harm.

“In my view, the evidence is consistent with a kind of property offence that lacks an intention to actually be reckless in terms of endangering persons,” he said.

“We know for a fact the house didn’t light. It was something that burned itself out.”

Emergency crews were called to the townhouse complex on Willoughby Drive near Weinbrenner Road in Chippawa on Oct. 16, 2020.

An investigation revealed a fire had been intentionally set at the front entrance to the home shortly after 5 a.m., followed by a second fire at the rear window well.

Surveillance cameras captured the defendant walking back and forth near the unit, carrying a can in his hand.

Court was told the woman and her child were in the home at the time and were able to flee the residence without injury.