Suspect with lighter, torch arrested, released four days before accused charged with murder in fatal arson, trial told
Four days before Alex Courchene was charged with murder for a North End blaze that killed two people, police arrested another suspect who was released that same day without charge, […]
On Wednesday, a jury learned that a suspect was arrested four days before Alex Courchene was charged with murder in a fatal North End arson case. The arrested individual, a 22-year-old man, was found in possession of a black lighter and torch. He claimed he did not start the fire, and his comment was deemed unprovoked by his defence lawyer.
The man admitted to using methamphetamine around 2:30 a.m. before his arrest. Four days prior, police received a tip regarding a possible suspect and arrested a different man in possession of similar items. Courchene, 30, was charged with arson and two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Zenabu Gula, 38, and Geda Wodisso, 49 on September 14, 2024.
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