An Edmonton man who lost his infant son in an arson fire last month clung to friends and family outside court on Friday after a hearing for the teenager accused of the crime.
“I don’t understand how someone can destroy our whole life,” Cordell Brown said after the brief hearing, tears rolling down his face.
“Everything’s gone … my dogs, my kid.”
Bronson Woycenko, 19, appeared on closed-circuit TV and stared blankly at the camera as the Crown prosecutor read his name aloud.
Woycenko is charged with second-degree murder, arson, disregard for human life and mischief under $5,000.
Jessica Tammerand, 18, was also charged with arson, disregard for human life and mischief under $5,000. She was released on bail last week.
Police said patio furniture was deliberately set on fire on the porch of 1040 Armitage Cres. SW on August 22.
Hunter Brown, aged five months, died of smoke inhalation, according to an autopsy. His death was ruled a homicide by police.
The two accused were arrested August 25.
Woycenko remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again Sept. 29.