A Montreal man who set fire to his Esquimalt rental property two years ago, then fled to the airport, has been sentenced to two years in a federal prison.
A B.C. Supreme court jury convicted Wei Li in October of setting fire to his rental property on Uganda Avenue and threatening the health, safety and property of his tenant, Billy Montgomery. The arson took place on Oct. 3, 2017.
The jury deliberated for six hours before returning with a guilty verdict.
During the trial, they heard that Li bought the duplex and lived in the basement suite from October 2016 to April 2017, when he moved back to Montreal. On Sept. 30, 2017, he returned to Victoria to deal with numerous police and bylaw complaints and to clean the basement suite, which was being vacated by another tenant.
After he arrived, Li sent Irene Brett, the woman who lived in the other half of the duplex, a text saying they needed to talk because “someone threatened to burn the house.”
Montgomery, who lived in an upper suite, had once been good friends with Li. But their relationship soured after Li left Victoria, court heard. In the days leading up to the fire, Li and Montgomery clashed repeatedly.
Li testified that Montgomery had threatened to trash the house and burn the place down.
Montgomery denied making those threats.
The jury heard that on the morning of Oct. 3, 2017, Montgomery watched Li walk up the driveway to the garage. He was angry that Li had shown up unannounced. He started yelling at Li, who went around the back of the house and entered the suite.
Montgomery yelled and swore at Li through the floor and through the basement door and also went downstairs to confront Li.
Just after 10 a.m., Montgomery and two friends left to buy groceries. By the time they returned, about 20 minutes later, the garage was engulfed in flames. Li was the only one remaining on the property after they left, the jury heard.
About 10:33 a.m., Li arrived at Victoria International Airport. As he passed through security, he asked for help. He was in pain from burns to his hands, neck and face. He told airport security that he had been burned in a house fire and he had been lucky to escape with his life. The woman who helped Li was concerned that he hadn’t called 911 and that there might be a tenant in the burning building.
Police investigating the fire searched the garage and basement suite and found a gasoline container and kindling. The previous tenant testified that she had never seen those items and they did not belong to her.
Crown prosecutor Jess Patterson argued that Li wanted Montgomery out of the house and set the fire because he was angry at him, and that the text to Brett was part of Li’s plan to divert suspicion from him.
Patterson told the jury he believed that Li used gasoline to light the fire, but gasoline vapours ignited and Li was badly burned.
He reminded the jury that Li searched the internet for information about gasoline, plastic bottles and safety the day before the fire. Li had already placed a log by the kitchen window so he could climb out and go straight to his car without being seen, said Patterson.
Li drove straight to Victoria International Airport and did not call 911.
“The only glitch in his getaway plan is that he burned himself.”
The defence countered that Li did not set fire to his home because he had already been warned by police that insurance would not cover the loss in the event of a fire.
Last week, Li showed up at his sentencing hearing and asked for an adjournment to get his affairs in order. Li’s lawyer, Rolphe Horne, said his client needed time to make financial arrangements so his children can be looked after while he is in jail.
Justice Robin Baird gave Li a lecture, but in the end granted the adjournment for the sake of Li’s ex-wife.
Court heard that Li lives in Montreal with his wife. The couple are separated but live together to look after their children, ages 12 and 10.
