John Magno
Encyclopedia
John Magno is a Toronto businessman who is currently awaiting trial for arson
, allegedly for insurance fraud
.
Magno was the president of Woodbine Building Supply at Danforth Avenue
and Woodbine Avenue, a business he co-owned with his two brothers Frank and Carlo and founded by their father.
Woodbine Building Supply was destroyed on Christmas Eve in 2001, in what was one of the biggest fires in Toronto's history. More than 170 firefighters and 40 vehicles were required to bring the six-alarm blaze under control. The building was less than 50 metres from residences in the neighbourhood and more than 50 families had to evacuate their homes on Christmas morning. Residents were temporarily housed in TTC buses, being allowed to return to their homes around 7 a.m. on Christmas morning. Sam Paskalis was severely burned and disfigured, remaining in a coma for several months. Two weeks after the fire, investigators shifting through the rubble found the charred corpse of Anthony "Tony" Jarcevic.
Investigators quickly suspected arson
, and suggested that Paskalis and Jarcevic were caught in the conflagration due to their inexperience, when they prematurely ignited gasoline and other flammable substances. the siblings were in the process of growing their business to a new location on Sunrise Avenue, even closer to a Home Depot, having established an outlet there, while the old Woodbine Building Supply was to be demolished and a new condominium development would be built. The Magno brothers had always maintained proper insurance. The perpetrators chose Christmas Eve to start the blaze because they believed there would be fewer witnesses since Italians and Greeks in that area were likely in church for midnight mass.
Paskalis admitted his involvement in the alleged scheme, which saw the Crown drop the second-degree murder charges. He received a seven year sentence for manslaughter.
Magno and Adrian Roks
were charged under a rarely used section of the Criminal Code that lets a person face murder charges if they take "flagrant risks with human life in order to achieve some further unlawful purpose." While second-degree murder would have been more difficult to prove than manslaughter, which is the usual for arson, it does carry a more significant penalty. The judge noted that while there was no "intent", she said that they had appreciated the likelihood that a fireman, bystander, or co-conspirator could be killed.
Roks was convicted in spring 2007 of second-degree murder, with the judge ruling that "Roks risked human life for money. This risk materialized and greed and incompetence ended in tragedy."
Magno, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence, was expected to go on trial in 2008. However, it took until April 2010 for the case to go to court.
The proposed plan on the site of the former Woodbine Building store will 12-storey condo with 144 units called Carmelina Condominiums. This was considerably larger than the two-storey retail buildings, and higher than the recommended nine storeys in the Official Plan.
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, allegedly for insurance fraud
Insurance fraud
Insurance fraud is any act committed with the intent to fraudulently obtain payment from an insurer.Insurance fraud has existed ever since the beginning of insurance as a commercial enterprise. Fraudulent claims account for a significant portion of all claims received by insurers, and cost billions...
.
Magno was the president of Woodbine Building Supply at Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue is an east-west arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its western end begins in Old Toronto from the Prince Edward Viaduct as a continuation of Bloor Street and continues through East York until intersecting with Kingston Road in Scarborough...
and Woodbine Avenue, a business he co-owned with his two brothers Frank and Carlo and founded by their father.
Woodbine Building Supply was destroyed on Christmas Eve in 2001, in what was one of the biggest fires in Toronto's history. More than 170 firefighters and 40 vehicles were required to bring the six-alarm blaze under control. The building was less than 50 metres from residences in the neighbourhood and more than 50 families had to evacuate their homes on Christmas morning. Residents were temporarily housed in TTC buses, being allowed to return to their homes around 7 a.m. on Christmas morning. Sam Paskalis was severely burned and disfigured, remaining in a coma for several months. Two weeks after the fire, investigators shifting through the rubble found the charred corpse of Anthony "Tony" Jarcevic.
Investigators quickly suspected arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, and suggested that Paskalis and Jarcevic were caught in the conflagration due to their inexperience, when they prematurely ignited gasoline and other flammable substances. the siblings were in the process of growing their business to a new location on Sunrise Avenue, even closer to a Home Depot, having established an outlet there, while the old Woodbine Building Supply was to be demolished and a new condominium development would be built. The Magno brothers had always maintained proper insurance. The perpetrators chose Christmas Eve to start the blaze because they believed there would be fewer witnesses since Italians and Greeks in that area were likely in church for midnight mass.
Paskalis admitted his involvement in the alleged scheme, which saw the Crown drop the second-degree murder charges. He received a seven year sentence for manslaughter.
Magno and Adrian Roks
Adrian Roks
Adrian Roks is a Canadian former business owner, currently serving a life sentence in Kingston Penitentiary in connection with the Christmas Eve 2001 Woodbine Building Supply, Co. fire, which killed Tony Jarcevic and severely injured Sam Paskalis. Prior to his arrest, Roks owned two tanning salons...
were charged under a rarely used section of the Criminal Code that lets a person face murder charges if they take "flagrant risks with human life in order to achieve some further unlawful purpose." While second-degree murder would have been more difficult to prove than manslaughter, which is the usual for arson, it does carry a more significant penalty. The judge noted that while there was no "intent", she said that they had appreciated the likelihood that a fireman, bystander, or co-conspirator could be killed.
Roks was convicted in spring 2007 of second-degree murder, with the judge ruling that "Roks risked human life for money. This risk materialized and greed and incompetence ended in tragedy."
Magno, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence, was expected to go on trial in 2008. However, it took until April 2010 for the case to go to court.
The proposed plan on the site of the former Woodbine Building store will 12-storey condo with 144 units called Carmelina Condominiums. This was considerably larger than the two-storey retail buildings, and higher than the recommended nine storeys in the Official Plan.
External links
- http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=0f65e500-bab2-4aaa-a8f6-e161fe5e8244&k=53978
- http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=9f0ce4a5-6067-4009-8a9c-31c176f338a1
- http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=0a10b0e2-bd0d-4355-b091-83e2930a8a1f
- Torched !