Psychiatric assessment ordered following Moncton house fire

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By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff

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Police have made an arrest in the arson that destroyed a Robinson Street home Monday morning and they say the suspect lives in that same neighbourhood.

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RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Danon Hansen

"We had witnesses indicate to us what they saw and who they saw in that area that morning," says Codiac RCMP Cpl. Mike Gaudet. "They gathered the evidence and the investigation led to him."

Danon Jeffrey Hansen, 30, was arrested late Wednesday afternoon and taken in for questioning. He was brought to Moncton provincial court yesterday afternoon and charged with two counts of arson.

Gaudet says police spoke to a number of people in the area, including some who work at local businesses, and the information they provided placed the suspect in the area at the time the fire started. While Gaudet doesn't know if the accused was at the scene while firefighters battled the blaze, at least one person who was there Monday morning tells the Times & Transcript the accused was amongst the onlookers while the fire burned.

The accused is believed to live in a special care group home in that neighbourhood for people with mental issues.

Hansen appeared in the prisoners dock yesterday, with short cropped hair wearing black glasses. He sat staring straight ahead with his mouth wide open prior to his case being called.

Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman read the charges to Hansen, which accuse him of intentionally causing damage by fire to a dwelling while being reckless as to whether or not it was occupied at the time. There's one count for the Robinson Street fire that destroyed the home and a second count because burned newspaper was found shoved under the siding of a house on Park Street, doing minimal damage.

Duty counsel Maurice Blanchard told the judge he spoke with Hansen's case worker and mental health professional, both of whom were in court, and recommended a 30-day psychiatric assessment to determine if the accused is fit to stand trial and is criminally responsible for his actions. The Crown agreed the recommendation was appropriate and the judge ordered him to spend the next month at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton. He returns to court Dec. 11.

The fire started at 5:48 a.m. on Monday and completely destroyed the home. A family of three escaped the blaze unharmed.

Hansen has been ordered to have no contact with several individuals, including victims and witnesses.