Crown prosecutors have one year to find new evidence to bring forward in the case of a Sundre father and son who face charges related to the arson of their Calgary-based business.
A trial date for Nicolas Rocco Gallipoli, 28, and his father Mario Rocco Gallipoli, 62, had previously been set to run in Calgary Court from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4.
But there was a stay of proceedings early in August that resulted in the change, which means the Crown now has to present new information for the charges to go forward, said a provincial court media clerk.
Following a police investigation into the September 2015 fire that gutted Tail Lights Truck & Auto and also threatened neighbouring businesses in a strip mall located in the 6000 block of 6th Street SE, Calgary police identified the two Sundre men as suspects.
A Calgary Police Service detective previously said he was quick to believe arson was the cause of the blaze.
"Evidence located at the scene clearly indicated the fire was not accidental," said Det. Torrie Killam.
The fire was reported shortly after a burglary alarm went off at about 2:25 a.m. on Sept. 6, 2015. The Calgary Fire Department responded and protected other businesses from further damage. The building was deemed unstable and damage was estimated at $500,000. Following their investigation, authorities charged the Gallipolis, who were two of the business's three owners, with arson and insurance fraud offences in connection to the fire, said police.
Although he could not discuss the details of the arson as the case is before the courts, Killam said the cause of the fire was suspicious right from the onset of the investigation. It wasn't a mystery as to how it started, but rather who was behind it, he said.
So police proceeded to pursue the investigation for about eight months, accumulating background information on the business, canvassing the area and speaking with people, he said, adding, "we were able to build a pretty strong case."
Nicolas was charged with arson causing damage to property, arson causing damage to own property and risking others, as well as arson for a fraudulent purpose. Mario was charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
