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 Investigators look over the house next to the Walkiewicz house that exploded in Mississauga, Tuesday, August 29, 2006. (SUN MEDIA/David Lucas) |
BRAMPTON -- A Mississauga man is guilty of blowing up his house in an attempt to exact revenge on his ex-wife.
After nearly five hours of deliberation late Wednesday, a jury found John Walkiewicz, 55, guilty of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and arson endangering life.
Walkiewicz triggered an explosion that destroyed a house on Duchess Dr. that he owned with his ex-wife Eva.
The blast rocked the Cawthra Rd.-QEW area neighbourhood at 8 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2006.
The Crown argued Walkiewicz blew up the home because Eva was forcing him to sell it as part of the divorce proceedings she began earlier that year.
Walkiewicz loosened a natural gas pipe to cause a leak on the day the house sale was to close. His wife and 24-year-old daughter were to visit the house that morning to pick up some belongings.
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The jury found the locksmith not guilty of two other counts of arson.
Walkiewicz pleaded not guilty to all charges.
No date has been set for a sentencing hearing because Walkiewicz fired his lawyer while the jurors deliberated.
The day of the explosion, neighbour Steve Allen was jogging by when the force of the blast sent him flying across the street.
"I saw a house coming my way," he said at the time. "I don't know how it missed me."
Allen was left with 100 stitches in his leg, ear and forehead.