Closing arguments were heard on Thursday during the trial of a man accused of setting a fatal fire at his apartment. A fire started in the apartment suite rented by Jason Zabos at 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 26, 2024. The fire sent multiple people from the apartment building at 10745 79 Ave. to hospital and killed 70-year-old Ricardo Olivares. It broke out during an eight-hour-long standoff between Zabos and police officers who were trying to serve Zabos with an eviction order. On Thursday, the Crown argued that Zabos’ testimony in court last week was not credible, adding Zabos was the only person in the apartment when the fire started. The defence said no one saw Zabos start the fire, and repeated claims from her client that Zabos’ cat started the fire accidentally. A verdict is expected in December. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson
