Criminal Negligence Conviction For Landlord Who Disregarded Fire Code Violations, Deceived Fire Inspector

An appeal court has upheld the conviction of a landlord for criminal negligence causing death after numerous Fire Code violations led to a tenant's death. The case demonstrates that violations of duties under provincial safety laws can form the basis for a criminal negligence conviction.

The premises had been inspected a number of times before the fire and the landlord was told that specific upgrades, including a system of linked smoke alarms and pulls, with smoke alarms in every bedroom, were required to comply with the Fire Code.

A tenant, who had been drinking heavily, died when his blanket and mattress caught on fire after he left a hot plate on. The tenant had stayed in his room to try to fight the fire. Another tenant suffered serious burns. None of the tenants were alerted to the fire by the sound of a smoke alarm.