John Magno

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John Magno (44 years old, with three children) is a Toronto businessman who is currently awaiting trial for arson, allegedly for insurance fraud.

Magno was the president of Woodbine Building Supply at Danforth Avenue and Woodbine Avenue, a business he co-owned with his two brothers Frank and Carlo and founded by their father.

Woodbine Building Supply was destroyed on Christmas Eve in 2001, in what was one of the biggest fires in Toronto's history. More than 170 firefighters were required to bring the six-alarm blaze under control. The building was less than 50 metres from residences in the neighbourhood and more than 50 families had to evacuate their homes on Christmas morning. Tony Jarcevic was killed in the blaze while Sam Paskalis was severely burned and disfigured, remaining in a coma for several months.

Investigators quickly suspected arson, and suggested that Paskalis and Jarcevic were caught in the conflagration due to their inexperience, when they prematurely ignited gasoline and other flammable substances.

Facing competition from a nearby Home Depot and frequent complaints from residents, the siblings were in the process of moving their business to a new location on Sunshine Avenue, having established an outlet there, while the old Woodbine Building Supply was to be demolished and the land sold for a new condominium development. The Magno brothers had increased their insurance two months prior to the incident, and unsuccessfully tried to cash in the $3.5-million policy shortly after the fire. Paskalis admitted his involvement in the alleged scheme, which saw the Crown drop the second-degree murder charges. He received a seven year sentence for manslaughter.

Magno and Roks were charged under a rarely used section of the Criminal Code that lets a person face murder charges if they take "flagrant risks with human life in order to achieve some further unlawful purpose." While second-degree murder would have been more difficult to prove than manslaughter, which is the usual for arson, it does carry a more significant penalty. The judge noted that while there was no "intent", she said that they had appreciated the likelihood that a fireman, bystander, or co-conspirator could be killed.

Roks was convicted in spring 2007 of second-degree murder, with the judge ruling that "Roks risked human life for money. This risk materialized and greed and incompetence ended in tragedy." Magnos, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence, will go on trial in 2008.