EDMONTON - A rejected Edmonton man has admitted his burning desire for a female co-worker sparked a real-life blaze, resulting in the evacuation of an apartment building.
Le Yu, 21, pleaded guilty Wednesday in provincial court to charges of mischief and uttering death threats.
Crown prosecutor Jody Fraser told court Yu became infatuated with Courtney Erickson, a young woman who was working with him at the bakery at Sunterra Market in Commerce Place, 10150 Jasper Ave.
"This individual became obsessed with Miss Erickson, to the point where he could not function," said Fraser.
Erickson rebuffed Yu's romantic advances, which led to him issuing a death threat against her, said Fraser, explaining it was along the lines of "if he can't have her, he was going to kill her."
On April 2, Yu ended up going to the apartment he lived in with his father and stacking a bunch of pizza boxes on the stove and turning on the burner, court heard.
A fire ensued and the building had to be evacuated before firefighters went in and extinguished the blaze.
Defence lawyer Kent Teskey said Yu suffers from a long-standing mental illness and is usually in the care of his father and he is currently stabilized on medication.
Judge Leo Wenden accepted a joint submission for a conditional discharge with 12 months of probation.
Yu was ordered to stay under the care of his psychiatrist and to have no contact with Erickson, either in person or via the Internet. He is also not allowed to go to Sunterra.
tony.blais@sunmedia.ca
