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2mo ago

Old Montreal Fire: Building Owner Charged With Manslaughter in 7 Deaths

Police say the case targets alleged negligent management of the heritage building.

People walk past a heritage building in Old Montreal, on the third anniversary of the deadly fire that claimed the lives of seven victims, Monday, March 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Sylvie and Robert Lacas, lay flowers as they pay their respects at a heritage building in Old Montreal where their granddaughter Charlie Lacroix perished in a fire that killed seven people three years ago today, in Old Montreal Monday, March 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Firefighters were searching for bodies several days after the fire tore through the Old Montreal building in 2023.
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Overview

  • Émile (Emile Haim) Benamor, 63, was arrested and charged with seven counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
  • Benamor appeared in court by videolink on Wednesday, was released under conditions, and is due back in court on April 17, according to CBC.
  • Police say the charges concern the building’s condition and management, not the fire’s ignition, and a separate arson probe remains open after traces of an accelerant were found and accidental causes were ruled out in 2023.
  • The 14‑unit property had numerous fire‑safety violations and housed illegal short‑term rentals; six of the seven people who died were staying in such units.
  • Families of the victims welcomed the charges as a first step and continue to seek answers, as reporting has also spotlighted gaps in municipal oversight, including a moratorium on evacuation‑route inspections before the fire.