Two companies facing charges in connection with a fatal fire at a Sydney rental property have entered not guilty pleas to seven charges under the Fire Safety Act.
The charges were filed in connection with a fatal fire Dec. 17, 2022, that claimed the life of 34-year-old Rajesh Collapudi of India, who at the time was enrolled as a student at Cape Breton University. Jacob William Daniel Jackson, 20, of Sydney Mines, and Eric Joseph Harbin, 20, are both charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine.
Jody Francis MacDonald, 52, is charged with five counts of breaching court orders, four counts of arson , and single counts of arson , assault with a weapon , assault by choking and uttering a threat.MacDonald is alleged to have set fire to four apartments in a building located on Queen Street in North Sydney. The assault, weapon and threat offences are alleged to have involved a female tenant in the building.