VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- A Canadian jury began weighing the fate Friday of a young man charged with killing five members of a family in a fire that the intended target escaped.
Jurors at the British Columbia trial of Nathan Fry, 20, were told they may convict him of five counts of first-degree murder if they believe he intended to kill Bolingo Etibako of second-degree murder or manslaughter, The Vancouver Province reported.
Etibako's mother, three sisters and girlfriend died in the 2006 fire. Etibako escaped by jumping from a window of the Vancouver home.
Fry allegedly set the fire because he was angry at Etibako, 17, for linking him to two stabbings.
During the trial, jurors saw a videotape, made by police officers working undercover, in which Fry admits setting the fire. However, during the trial he said he had an alibi -- stealing from two marijuana-growing operations -- and that he confessed to the crime on tape to make an impression on a crime boss.
