Murder charge after fatal Winnipeg house fire on St. Johns Avenue

A 22-year-old faces first-degree murder after a north Winnipeg house fire killed one man and left two others with permanent burns.

Winnipeg man charged with murder after arson fire kills one, injures two

A 22-year-old man faces a first-degree murder charge after a house fire on St. Johns Avenue in north Winnipeg killed one resident and left two others with permanent injuries, Global News Crime reports.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews arrived at the two-storey home in the 300 block of St. Johns Avenue at around 10:16 p.m. last Thursday after reports of a blaze. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke pouring from the structure and brought the flames under control shortly after 11 p.m.

All three occupants of the home were transported to hospital. Mark Bosadas Marmeto, 35, who had been admitted in critical condition, died of his injuries the following day. A 53-year-old man remained in hospital as of Monday. A 31-year-old woman was treated and subsequently released, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release.

Police described the injuries sustained by both survivors as "life-altering burns."

Ismail Abdihakim Ali, 22, was arrested at the scene on the night of the fire. He was initially charged with three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of arson causing bodily harm, and one count of arson causing damage to property.

Following Marmeto's death, prosecutors upgraded several of those charges. Ali now faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Source: Global News Crime