After a morning of listening to his victims and addressing them with phrases of seeming regret, arsonist Jay Bradley smiled for reporters and mentioned “Music brings people together.” Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell.
Jay Bradley, the arsonist who destroyed a treasured Napanee neighborhood centre by fireplace in October 2023, addressed his victims on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, with a lot sobbing — but seemingly dry eyes.
As Bradley addressed the court docket, he stood on the similar podium the place a few of his victims had simply completed their influence statements. Sadly, within the small Napanee courtroom, solely Justice Geoffrey Griffin and his workers may see Bradley’s face as he described his “full ownership” of his “selfish” actions.
“I didn’t write a speech because I wanted to speak from the heart,” Bradley advised the choose.
This speech “from the heart” started after a morning of sufferer influence statements and dialogue contemplating find out how to sentence the person who has no earlier legal file but pleaded responsible to the arson of the Lennox Agricultural Society Group Centre in addition to a personal property final 12 months.
Throughout the 15-minute morning break, there was a lot chatter; members of the general public provided congratulations and condolences to the victims who’d offered statements. Then, the group thinned from about 50 to 30 individuals who remained as Justice Griffin returned to the bench.
In contemplating sentencing, the defence and the Crown famous Bradley’s lack of legal file earlier than this offence.
“He’s made it through 50 years on this earth, half a century, without appearing before the courts,” Griffin acknowledged.
Each attorneys gave quite a few examples of sentencing case regulation involving arson which they believed Griffin ought to contemplate. Many concerned folks with no legal file, however some concerned a number of fatalities. (An observer within the courtroom advised Kingstonist afterward, “I never want to hear another case of arson again.”)
“Sentencing is an individual process,” Griffin famous, explaining the a number of aspects he should contemplate in Bradley’s case, which brought on no fatalities however tore the material of security within the small city and destroyed a beloved landmark.
Crown lawyer Kerry Watson mentioned she was looking for a penitentiary sentence of 5 years much less pre-trial custody time of “364 real days.” Watson mentioned, “I see no issue of an enhancement of one-and-half to one… To be 546 days,” referring to the variety of days that may be faraway from the proposed five-year sentence to replicate the time Bradley has already served whereas awaiting trial and sentencing. In Canada, a choose has the discretion to calculate a convicted particular person’s time served with “enhanced credit” of one-and-a-half days counted for each “real day” the convicted particular person has spent in custody.
“In terms of ancillary orders” to probably be imposed on Bradley, Watson mentioned the Crown sought a 10-year obligatory prohibition order based mostly on part 109 of the Prison Code: “an order prohibiting the person from possessing any firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, firearm part, ammunition, prohibited ammunition and explosive substance.”
She additionally sought a DNA order, indicating that she felt it was “strongly in the interest of justice to obtain a DNA sample from Mr. Bradley.”
Watson additionally mentioned, “I would be asking for a forfeiture of defence-related property, the 1953 Pontiac STR sedan, and the contents therein, pursuant to section 490.1.” Bradley used his traditional automotive to commit the crime, and the Crown needs to see it auctioned off and the proceeds given to the victims as partial compensation for his or her losses — although Watson conceded it could be “a nominal amount” in comparison with the overall worth of the properties destroyed within the arson.
Griffin agreed that receiving the money can be “no Hallelujah moment” for the victims, however from his understanding, the automotive was Bradley’s “only worthwhile possession.”
The Crown additionally sought a no-contact order with the McKinley household, whose storage Bradley destroyed, and a freestanding restitution order of $3,754,000 to be paid to them.
Crews from 4 totally different fireplace departments battled the blaze on the area on October 23, 2023. “Thanks to the firefighters, no one got hurt. That is the most important thing that I’m so grateful for… I don’t know what I would do if somebody got hurt,” Bradley advised the court docket. Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
After some backwards and forwards about restitution to the opposite victims who’d misplaced property, Griffin acknowledged that fee in any kind was unlikely, saying “Let’s be realistic… Bradley has nothing… He’s a guy who’s essentially completely on his ass. He has nothing.” The choose then defined to the courtroom {that a} restitution order is usually not useful as a result of it re-traumatizes victims.
“The nightmare that’s come into your life continues… as you try to chase Bradley for the money,” Griffin proffered.
Earlier on, Bradley addressed the court docket in what can solely be described as an odd show of self-aggrandizement blended with interjections about how he, too, had had comparable experiences to his victims.
“The first thing I got to say is thanks to the firefighters, no one got hurt. That is the most important thing that I’m so grateful for… I don’t know what I would do if somebody got hurt,” he mentioned, dropping his breath and intelligibility in sobs.
Griffin interjected, “Listen, everyone in this room thinks it’s a blessing no one was hurt, and the reality is, it could have easily resulted in death and more destruction.”
“It could have been a lot worse,” Bradley agreed, calling his actions “selfish,” as he started to choke and sputter and coated his face along with his hand.
Griffin requested him to take away his hand from his mouth so he could possibly be heard. The choose’s manner throughout Bradley’s speech made it clear that he hoped Bradley grasped the influence of his actions. Nevertheless, at break time, as members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) led him previous the Kingstonist reporter, Bradley’s eyes weren’t purple, and his face was dry regardless of his earlier sobs.
Bradley mentioned he had made notes and deliberate to deal with every sufferer.
To Max Kaiser, who had spoken on behalf of the Lennox Agricultural Society board (colloquially generally known as the “fair board”), Bradley mentioned, “Fear is a horrible thing,” and that he didn’t need the truthful board to really feel concern as a result of “they are great people, and I wouldn’t want them to feel that way.”
Subsequent, he mentioned, “Andy from Sea Cadets is the one that hits me the most,” breaking down once more and sobbing.
Nevertheless, as he continued to catch his breath, Bradley left that thought behind and went off on a tangent describing his intentions for beginning the Disco Ball Occasions enterprise, which he mentioned was “for the kids.” (Disco Ball Occasions was Bradley’s curler skating rink enterprise, the demise of which was the crux of his ire in direction of the truthful board).
Then-Napanee Fireplace Chief Invoice Hammond noticed the catastrophic destruction on the area as Ontario Fireplace Marshal crews investigated the scene in 203. Picture by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
“I worked so hard to be a good model citizen,” he mentioned, in what he described as “a terrible world.”
Griffin tried to indicate the irony of Bradley’s actions by echoing pickleball membership member Cathy McDonald’s phrases and reminded Bradley of the nice that neighborhood centres like the world and neighborhood actions do for folks’s lives: “That is the same principle you are describing, but yours was geared to a younger group.”
“And before COVID, we were so successful… and it brought money to the community, which I won’t go down that route,” Bradley mentioned, seeming to perk up on the thought. “I’m sorry for being so emotional about it, but it is about our kids; that is what it was in my heart.”
Bradley acknowledged that he was sorry for making former mayor Marg Isbester and others whose houses had been close to the world to really feel unsafe.
“But you knew where the arena was, right,” Griffin mentioned, referring to the current fires in Jasper, Alberta — how they destroyed the complete neighborhood, and Bradley’s fireplace “could have done the same.”
Bradley described the varied neighbours to the world as supportive of his enterprise and the pickleball membership members as “the sweetest people.”
Griffin requested, “Jay, did you not turn your mind to any of this when you were trying to get back at the Agricultural Society? [Did you say,] ‘Hey, I’m not the only tenant’ [at the arena]?”
Bradley responded with the unbelievable assertion that he was not looking for revenge when he lit the fires.
Griffin once more interjected, “You’ve had a chance now to be on ice: have you thought about what it was, if not revenge?”
“When you are so focused on your passion,” Bradley mentioned — praising his personal previous accomplishments and calling himself a “self-made” “underdog” who had a “passion project” in thoughts when he began his enterprise — “to come from being an underdog with no possibilities of success and then to get where I was from hard work, I couldn’t let it go.”
“And Carol McKinley was a symbol,” he added cryptically.
Bradley lauded former truthful board president Leonard Austin’s assist of him, calling Austin a “wonderful gentleman” who went to his curler skating occasions and supported his enterprise. He additionally talked about Invoice Casselman, calling him, too, “a wonderful gentleman,” and saying “It’s too bad he couldn’t be here today” — apparently failing to acknowledge that Casselman was two rows behind him as he spoke.
The McKinleys misplaced 1000’s of labor information and a number of other particular household mementos within the fireplace Bradley set to their automotive and storage. Their house was additionally broken by the warmth. Picture by Michelle Dorey Froestell/Kingstonist.
Bradley lastly touched on the McKinley household, acknowledging George McKinley and advising him that he hoped the misplaced enterprise information can be backed up on Autocad.
“Carol McKinley, you mentioned your grandchildren; I know what it is like to have a family,” he mentioned, as soon as once more catching his breath, “to have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the house with all the kids around. I once loved to do [Christmas] lights at my house, too. I no longer have a house but that’s another story…” he trailed off into sobs.
He then mentioned he’d “like to address the fear that [Carol] McKinley has gone through”; then he mentioned, “I once and many times have gone through fear, in high school and most recently in jail. I don’t want Carol to fear anymore. That’s a horrible feeling, and I’m glad she has an amazing family.”
“I do know the sentimental value of things lost in the garage because I, too, have lost…” Bradley started.
Griffin minimize him off and requested him about his circle of relatives: “Who talks with you?”
He mentioned his youngsters are 13 and 10 and that he and his former associate supported one another.
Griffin requested if anybody from Bradley’s household was current. His aunt and two cousins offered themselves, and Griffin unexpectedly known as them to the entrance and requested them questions on themselves and their relationship with Bradley.
“Do you have any explanation about how things unfolded the way they did?… Were you guys around when you saw him spiralling?” the choose requested.
Griffin listened to the solutions, saying he was “just curious” and never making an attempt to offend or blame them. “I’m glad you’re here. There’s one thing I do know: if people are going to have success in any kind of rehabilitation and stability, they need family, they need friends, and they cannot do it alone. So,” he mentioned, addressing Bradley, “I’m glad you’re here in the supportive capacity of your family.”
Bradley commented to his victims and the neighborhood, “It’s such a bad situation, and I wish I could take it back.”
Griffin mentioned, “Now you understand, if you didn’t before, that arena — I don’t want to call it sacred, but it was almost sacred — it served so many purposes… It was a place for the whole family. It was a hockey palace, and we didn’t hear about the hockey community today, right? The Detroit Red Wings played there. The whole community built that. They got together as a community, and it was built by the community. It was used by the community. It was a testament to this community. It was special; it meant a lot.”
“It was and will remain enormously special to this community. And you’re the man who destroyed that. And for this community, quite frankly, that is seen as a terrible, inexplicable, evil act. And you’ll be wearing that forever. And I just don’t know why… a guy would do that. I don’t have an answer,” the choose continued, including that Bradley would have the remainder of his life to work on one.
“You’re going into the penitentiary at an age now [50] that is unusual for a first-time offender. But you’re also going into the penitentiary with the skills I’m hearing about that very few have,” Griffin completed, calling the entire state of affairs “tragic in so many ways.”
Griffin will give his sentence later this month.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Kingstonist requested Bradley for remark. Bradley was now not red-faced or sobbing; he smiled and mentioned, “Music brings people together,” echoing his earlier statements and former interviews with Kingstonist.
Kinstonist additionally caught up exterior with Mayor Terry Richardson. The City didn’t submit an influence assertion, he mentioned, however even with the victims getting some closure and Bradley being sentenced, probably the most vital influence on the municipality would reveal itself transferring ahead: “We’ve now got a municipality with a big open space instead of a centre for recreation. We’ve got to try and figure that out now, where we never, ever thought that we’d have to do that.”
No matter what sentence Bradley receives, Richardson mentioned, the neighborhood nonetheless has a protracted highway forward.
“It’s not over when it’s over. It’s only just beginning,” the mayor remarked.
