Not guilty in arson case

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A Kamloops woman accused of burning down three homes in Princeton was found not guilty in Penticton court, Friday.

Justice Elliott Myers acquitted Ashley Gallagher, saying he could not find beyond a reasonable doubt that threats were made to burn her boyfriend's snowmobile and property.

Gallagher faced multiple arson charges, stemming from an incident on March 27, 2014, in which three homes, including the one she lived in, were destroyed by fire.

The homes were located in the Fenchurch Avenue neighbourhood of Princeton.

Myers told court the case hinged on the threats to burn property, as there was no evidence as to the cause of the fire and no evidence putting Gallagher there. Therefore, he said, he had to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that she started the fire.

Her ex-boyfriend Robert Cormack, the judge said, gave three versions of the supposed threats. Dustin Gereau, Cormack's friend, did not say Gallagher threatened to burn anything.

Myers found it strange that Gereau would threaten to call police about alleged drinking and driving, but not for the fire threats.

Outside court, Gallagher said she's glad it's all over.

The impact on her life has been horrible, she said, with a lot of rumours and her life being put on hold for two years.

Her lawyer, Don Campbell, said it is still a tragedy that people lost their homes.