Man accused of arson released after Crown stays charge

A man accused of lighting a house on fire has avoided trial, in large part because two key witnesses failed to cooperate.

Christopher Lavoie, 35, was charged with arson in connection to a house fire last December in the Rural Municipality of Garden River.

At a hearing on Monday at Prince Albert Provincial Court, it was expected a trial date would be set but instead the arson charge was stayed. Crown Prosecutor MaryAnne Larson explained to paNOW there was not a reasonable likelihood of conviction.

“Two civilian witnesses simply would not return our phone calls and just did not want to come,” she said.