Fort McPherson, N.W.T., man sentenced to 4 years for house fire that killed his sister
Crown says Randall Blake was responsible for the house fire, but didn’t know his sister was inside
A man has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a 2023 house fire in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., which resulted in the death of his sister.
Justice Shannon Smallwood sentenced Randall Blake on Wednesday in his home community of Fort McPherson.
Blake pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February.
Morgan Fane, the Crown prosecutor, described the loss of 22-year-old Clara Blake as a tragic incident that affected the whole community.
The Crown asked for a sentence of four years, while the defence argued it should be three and a half years.
Fane told CBC that Smallwood ultimately decided on four years because of the tragic nature of the case. He said Blake was "hugely emotional" in court on Wednesday.
Fane said Blake intentionally set the fire, but didn't intend to harm anyone and didn't know Clara was inside. Fane said alcohol played a factor in Blake's state of mind at the time.
Fane said video evidence that was played in court showed Blake looking distraught after setting the fire and trying to use a fire extinguisher to put it out.
It wasn't known that Clara was in the home until days later. Clara's remains were discovered in the remnants of the house.
Court heard that Blake was well-liked in the community, but had struggled with alcohol in recent years.
With credit for the time he's already served in custody, Blake has under a year and a half left on his sentence.
With files from Jocelyn Shepel