Overview
- Loosemore, 62, has pleaded not guilty to the 2023 murder charge after Maree Vermont’s body was found in her burnt Goldie home following a house fire on August 5, 2023.
- Prosecutors told the jury this week that Vermont rejected Loosemore’s advances and that anger over that rejection provided motive for either killing her and setting the house alight or incapacitating her before lighting the fire.
- The Crown highlighted a paramedic’s report of a strong petrol smell in the ambulance, a bodycam image of scratches on Loosemore’s cheek, reports of blood on his clothing, and missing fuel containers from the property.
- Defence counsel said the death was a tragic accident, stressed that the autopsy could not determine a cause of death because the body was incinerated, and argued expert evidence is qualified and does not prove intent beyond reasonable doubt.
- The trial is expected to run several weeks with witnesses including family, emergency responders and experts, and the verdict will turn on whether the jury accepts the Crown’s circumstantial case linking assault, motive and arson.