Mark Marmeto (Mosaic Funeral Home)
A 22-year-old man is facing a first-degree murder charge after a house fire in Winnipeg left one man dead and two others with severe burns, police said Tuesday.
Ismail Abdihakim Ali was arrested at the scene of the fire on Aug. 27 and initially charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault and arson. Those charges were upgraded after the 35-year-old victim, identified as Mark Bosadas Marmeto, died from his injuries two days later.
Officers from the North District General Patrol responded to a residence in the 300 block of St. Johns Avenue just before 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 following reports of a fire. When they arrived, they found three victims suffering from life-altering burns: a 35-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman.
All three were rushed to hospital, with one listed in critical condition and two in unstable condition. The 31-year-old woman was treated and later released, while the 53-year-old man remains hospitalized.
The Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation as the extent of the incident became clear.
Ali was initially charged with three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of arson causing bodily harm, arson causing damage to property, possession of incendiary material, and break and enter to commit arson in a dwelling house. He was detained in custody.
On Aug. 29, Marmeto succumbed to his injuries. Manitoba Justice was consulted and approved upgraded charges of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Ali now faces first-degree murder in connection with Marmeto’s death, as well as two counts of attempted murder for the other victims. He remains in custody.
