Woman accused of setting Holiday Inn fire going straight to trial

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 8, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A 33-year-old woman accused of starting a fire at a city hotel in February has elected to be tried by Court of King’s Bench judge alone without a preliminary inquiry.
 Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady appeared on behalf of her client Kerissa Rikki Plume Thursday in Lethbridge court of justice, to relate to the court their decision to be tried by Court of King’s Bench judge alone without a preliminary inquiry, on one count each of arson causing damage to property and arson to property with reckless disregard to whether the property is occupied, and three charges of failing to comply with release conditions.
 The charges stem from an incident earlier this year when police charged Plume following a fire at about 1 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Holiday Inn hotel 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 when emergency personnel arrived, 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.
 The matter has been adjourned to the next arraignment day on Oct. 23.
 Plume also has an additional charge of breach of probation which was adjourned to Oct. 10.

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