Woman charged in Holiday Inn fire hires lawyer
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on March 14, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com After representing herself in court on four previous occasions, a 33-year-old woman accused of starting a fire at a city hotel in February has finally hired a lawyer.Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady went on the record Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, where she represented the accused, Kerissa Rikki Plume, who appeared by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
Hlady told court she is still waiting for disclosure from the Crown’s office, and the matter was adjourned to Wednesday for that purpose.
Plume is charged with one count of arson causing damage to property, one count of arson to property with reckless disregard to whether the property is occupied, and three counts of failing to comply with release conditions.
Police charged Plume following a fire at about 1 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Holiday Inn in the 2300 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services was called to a fire in a room on the third floor of the hotel, and a woman, who was the lone occupant of the room, was taken to hospital.
Crews contained the fire to the single room and while no one else was injured, a number of hotel occupants were “displaced” because of smoke and water damage.
Police reported that the building was significantly damaged by the sprinkler system, and damages were estimated to be about $1 million. An investigator determined the fire was caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials.”
A warrant was issued for Plume’s arrest after she left the hospital later in the day, but she was subsequently apprehended. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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