Toronto man charged with arson in fatal house fire
A Toronto man has been charged with arson linked to a house fire that resulted in the death of an eight-month-old girl. The incident also injured several family members, including a four-year-old boy.
Toronto police announced Wednesday that a 39-year-old Toronto man is charged in connection with a fatal fire last Saturday morning.
Julian De Souza is charged with arson with disregard for human life in relation to the deadly Scarborough blaze that claimed the life of an eight-month-old baby girl.
Court documents indicate that De Souza was charged a day after the fire occurred on Bushmills Square, near Finch Avenue and Brimley Road. He appeared in court on Wednesday and is scheduled to return on Thursday.
A court-ordered publication ban protects the identities of the victims involved in the fire.
Emergency crews responded to the incident at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, discovering the fire in the basement of the two-storey home.
Officers found De Souza with self-inflicted critical injuries and arrested him while he was receiving medical treatment in hospital, according to police.
The eight-month-old girl, found in life-threatening condition, later died in hospital. "This is a very tragic event that will affect the community and the family involved," stated Insp. Saleem Husain at the scene.
The cause of the baby's death remains unclear, pending autopsy results, as confirmed by a police spokesperson on Wednesday.
A four-year-old boy was treated for smoke inhalation, and a 70-year-old woman suffered medical injuries unrelated to the fire.
Police revealed that De Souza, along with the other individuals injured in the fire, were family members, but declined to provide further details.
Residents nearby shared their feelings about the incident, indicating that an older couple had lived at the residence with their daughter, son-in-law, and their two young children.
Carol Whittaker, a neighbour, noted that the young couple and children had been staying at the home for "just a short time" while awaiting their new home. She described the older couple as "great neighbours" and referred to their long-standing friendship.
"The baby dying is very hard for me," she expressed, struggling to hold back tears. "I feel so sorry for them."
With files from Asma Sahebzada
