“Convicted Murderer Denies Setting Fire that Resulted in Seven Deaths in Old Montreal | SEO-Optimized Title”

Accident – death – Obituary News :

Suspected Arsonist Denies Setting Fire That killed Seven People in Old Montreal

Convicted murderer claims presence at the scene but points to another perpetrator

A convicted murderer, Denis Bégin, who is suspected of setting the fire that tragically claimed the lives of seven individuals in Old Montreal in March 2023, has admitted to being present at the scene of the arson. However, he vehemently denies being the one responsible for starting the fire, asserting that someone else is the true culprit.

Surveillance footage places Bégin near the building before and after the fire

According to documents from the Correctional Service Canada, citing Montreal police statements, Denis Bégin was captured on surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the building that eventually caught fire. The footage shows his presence both before and after the incident, raising suspicions about his involvement.

Police have refrained from publicly identifying Bégin as a suspect

Last October, Radio-Canada reported that Bégin was considered a suspect in the fire. However, the authorities have refrained from publicly identifying him as a suspect, and no charges have been filed against him in connection with the case. The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) released a statement emphasizing that they typically avoid providing detailed comments on ongoing investigations to ensure the progress of the case remains unaffected.

Bégin denies setting the fire, claims to possess evidence of the real arsonist

According to the Federal Penitentiary Service documents, Bégin denies any involvement in setting the fire. He asserts that he possesses a photograph of the person responsible, securely stored in a cloud account. These documents were submitted as part of Bégin’s application against a transfer to a high-security prison, prompted by the reports linking him to the fire last October.

Bégin’s history and arrest

Denis Bégin, 63, had been on the run for 51 months after escaping from a minimum-security federal prison in February 2019. He was eventually apprehended in May after being identified during the investigation into a fatal fire. Corrections officials learned from a Montreal police investigator that a vehicle associated with Bégin was recorded on a surveillance camera near the historic building that caught fire on March 16. The video depicted a person arriving at the scene, entering and exiting the building, and departing approximately five minutes before the fire ignited.

Identity confusion and claims of innocence

The documents reveal that when questioned by the police as a witness to the fire, Bégin initially provided a different name. Investigators quickly determined that he did not match the description of the person he claimed to be and identified him as Denis Bégin through fingerprint analysis. Bégin maintained that he was merely a witness to the fire and had entered the building to retrieve some tools. He insisted that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Bégin’s offer of evidence in exchange for immunity rejected

During police questioning, Bégin claimed to have seen the person who may have set the fire and asserted that he possessed photographic evidence. He allegedly proposed releasing the image in return for immunity in the arson case, an offer that was promptly rejected by the authorities.

Revised application to prove innocence and secure parole

Subsequently, Bégin revised his application and offered to collaborate with the police to establish his innocence, aiming to improve his chances of parole. The correctional documents do not provide further details about this revised plan but indicate that authorities expressed concerns regarding Bégin’s behavior.

Questions regarding Bégin’s motives

The correctional documents raise doubts about Bégin’s true intentions. They state, “Either this photo exists and he would rather exploit the system than do his duty as a citizen by revealing the identity of the man who killed seven people… Or this photo does not exist, and he is trying to find an exit door.”

Bégin’s current status and past on the run

Bégin is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Ricardo Gizzi on Halloween night in 1993, earning him the moniker “Halloween Killer.” The correctional documents shed light on his four-year period on the run, during which he was considered one of Quebec’s most wanted criminals. Bégin informed authorities that after escaping from prison, he quickly acquired forged documents to assume new identities. He managed to work for various companies before establishing his own maintenance business and entering into a relationship with a woman who remained unaware of his fugitive status.

Conclusion

The investigation into the Old Montreal fire that claimed the lives of seven individuals continues, with Denis Bégin remaining a person of interest. As the case unfolds, the allegations, conflicting statements, and the possibility of photographic evidence will undoubtedly play a crucial role in determining the truth behind this tragic incident.

.