A man accused of starting a major fire in downtown London is now asking for a change in the judge handling his case, claiming a possible conflict of interest.
Fire Incident in January
In the early hours of January 13, the London Fire Department responded to a fire on Main Street. Investigators said the fire began at the Cunagin and Cunagin law office and spread to Cessna and Benge.
Both buildings suffered heavy structural damage and had to be demolished. A large part of downtown was closed from 3rd Street to 8th Street as multiple agencies worked to control the situation and keep people safe.
Accused and Charges
Scottie Seeley, 56, was rescued from one of the burning buildings and treated at the scene. In February, he was indicted and charged with:
- Second-degree arson
- Third-degree burglary
Request to Remove Commissioner
On April 29, Seeley’s lawyer filed a request to remove Douglas Benge from the case.
The reason: Benge is a co-owner of Cessna and Benge, one of the law firms destroyed in the fire, making him a victim in the case. He was appointed by Gregory Lay, the judge originally handling the case.
The defence argued that even if there is no clear bias right now, this situation could lead to unfairness later.
Court Decision
During a court hearing on April 29, the request was accepted. A new judge will now be assigned to the case.
Seeley’s next hearing is scheduled for June 22.
