The trial for a man charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire in the Capilano University library opened before a judge this week in North Vancouver provincial court.
Shane Clifford Nendick, 34, is charged with deliberately setting a fire in the university library on Jan. 1, 2015, resulting in about $200,000 of smoke and water damage.
Nendick is also charged with multiple counts of mischief stemming from damage to a number of vehicles parked on residential streets near to Capilano University that had their tires slashed in the early hours of Dec. 4, 2014. He is also charged with breaking into the Mountain Highway Esso station Jan. 10, 2015 and to Henry’s Grocery on Aug. 12, 2015.
In total, Nendick faces 28 charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
Crown prosecutor Arlene Loyst told Judge William Rogers Wednesday the case hinges on DNA evidence.
In opening remarks in court, Loyst said on the evening of Dec. 4, 2015, 183 vehicles were damaged in the parking lots of Neptune Terminals, Park & Tilford and on residential streets near Capilano University. Tires of multiple vehicles were also slashed, said Loyst, and blood was found on three of the vehicle tires from the area. DNA testing later matched that blood to Nendick.
Later that evening, said Loyst, at Capilano University, a security guard noticed a suspicious man staring in through one of the windows at about 3:30 a.m. The guard also discovered four broken windows and a van with the driver’s side window smashed. Nobody was ever charged with those crimes.
Less than a month later, however, on Jan. 1, 2015 somebody broke into the university library and lit a fire.
Security video shows a man inside the library, trying to forcibly open a safe with a crowbar, said Loyst. The man then takes some papers into a library office. As he leaves the room, “an orange glow can be seen,” said Loyst.
When police and firefighters arrived, they noticed doors had been damaged, lockers had been broken into and books had been thrown off the library shelves, she said.
Total damage was about $209,000.
On the video surveillance, the man seen leaving the office where the fire started is observed drinking from a two-litre bottle, said Loyst. A bottle matching that description was later found next to a door that had been smashed to gain entry to the library. Swabs were taken from the bottle and sent to a forensics lab. DNA samples matched those of Nendick, she said.
DNA samples were also taken after a man was observed bolting into the bushes, dropping a napsack, after the Esso Station on Mountain Highway was broken into on Jan. 10, said Loyst, and after someone smashed their way into Henry’s Grocery on Aug. 12, leaving drops of blood at the scene.
“All the DNA evidence was linked to Mr. Nendick,” said Loyst.
The trial is expected to continue over the next month.
