Man who lit fatal Napanee fire sentenced to 7 years for manslaughter, arson

The man who set fire to a transitional housing building in Napanee, Ont. last August, leading to the death of well-loved local fixture Walter Lasher, was sentenced on Friday to seven years in prison.

Ontario Court of Justice Judge Geoffrey Griffin said a total sentence of nine-and-a-half years was appropriate, given Andrew Thompson's "serious and violent crimes," but gave him credit for pretrial custody largely spent triple-bunked and in lockdown.

The 32-year-old looked blank as his sentence was read out.

Thompson was initially charged with first-degree murder for sparking the fatal Aug. 3, 2024 fire on John Street, but pleaded guilty in May to one count each of manslaughter and arson.

Lasher, a 67-year-old man, was a regular sight downtown where he was known for greeting friends and strangers alike with a friendly wave or smile. He died of smoke inhalation after being pulled from the burning building.

During a court appearance last month, Lasher's family members described him as childlike in many ways, with a disability that kept him from writing or reading anything other than his name. Several fought back tears while reading their victim impact statements.

Lasher's sister Freda Hart previously told the court he'd sat on every park bench in Napanee and was "as much a part of downtown as the landscape," adding that strangers still approach her to say how much they miss him.

"He didn't deserve to die in that cruel way," she said. "How would you feel if your brother were killed in a fire that was intentionally set?"

Asked during that court date if he had anything to say, Thompson apologized to Lasher's family, calling him a "great man" who was always kind.

"I am truly sorry," he said.

Defence Lawyer Peter Zaduk argued his client was in a haze from drug abuse at the time of the fire and should be sentenced to between five and eight years, with credit for two years of time served.

Repeated attempts to start fire

Crown Attorney Monica Heine disagreed, referring to surveillance video she said showed Thompson making repeated attempts to set fires in the building.

Court heard Thompson was in a relationship with a woman who lived in the building, across the hall from Lasher.

On the day of the fire, Thompson arrived to find another man in her room and learned she'd had an affair. His final attempt to light the fire involved setting her mattress ablaze, causing smoke to spread through the rooming house.

Thompson also hid one fire extinguisher and removed another from the front hall, spraying it so it couldn't be used to put out the flames, according to the Crown.

"These actions took place over a significant period of time, were persistent, required thought, diligence and focus," Heine said, calling for a sentence of 10 years.

Justice Griffin described the fire as a "horrifying and appalling day for the Napanee community."

He agreed with the Crown that surveillance video showing Thompson's four separate attempts to spark a fire over the course of more than an hour showed his actions weren't impulsive, but instead done in a "calculated manner."

Making sure the fire extinguishers weren't available could "only be seen as planning and deliberation," the judge added.

Griffin said Lasher dealt with mobility issues, which would have been obvious to Thompson.

The older man tried to escape as the smoke spread, but only managed to make it to a common room on the second floor, where he was found by emergency crews.

Meanwhile, after finally managing to start the fire, Thompson could be seen "scurrying away" while "covering his face," said the judge.

"It would have taken nothing to a bang on Mr. Lasher's locked door," he added.

While being led to a waiting police cruiser following his sentencing, Thompson repeated his apology to the victim's family.

Lasher's loved ones said while the decision did provide closure, some of them felt the sentence should have been longer. Regardless, they said, nothing can make up for the loss of Walter.