A Nanaimo, B.C., man has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for setting fire to the family home of a Victoria Ukrainian priest three years ago. Walter "Theo" Machinski pleaded guilty to one count of arson with disregard for human life.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on April 20, 2022, at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church when Machinski set the fire early that morning. A family of five who lived there narrowly escaped the blaze, with some members forced to jump from second-storey windows while others were rescued by firefighters.
- Father Yuriy Vyshnevskyy, a priest at the church, stated that he believed someone had poured gasoline through the mail slot to start the fire.
- The home remains uninhabitable due to water and fire damage from the incident.
Sentencing
Machinski’s sentence reflects his guilty plea and acknowledges his role in putting lives at risk during this devastating event. The sentencing was handed down by Justice Robert Metzger on Wednesday in Victoria Supreme Court after hearing submissions from Crown prosecutor Michael Garrick and defense lawyer David Miller.
Court Proceedings
- Garrick told the court that Machinski’s actions put people’s lives at risk when they were asleep inside their home or trying to escape after being awoken by smoke alarms around 1:30 a.m.
- He emphasized that the family could have died if not for the quick thinking and bravery shown by those who jumped out of windows or were rescued before flames engulfed their house.
Conclusion
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the potential consequences of reckless actions. The community continues to support the affected family as they navigate the aftermath of this incident.
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