Religious teacher charged in series of alleged sexual assaults in Ontario

York Regional Police patch is shown Dec, 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

 AMC

NOBLETON, Ont. - York Regional Police have identified the victim of a fatal late-night restaurant fire north of Toronto and downgraded a murder charge against the alleged arsonist. 

Police say the body of 22-year-old Bassam Mhaidat from Mississauga was found inside the burned down restaurant on Feb. 16.

Police say the accused is now facing a manslaughter charge, downgraded from the second-degree murder charge police had announced earlier this month. 

The 22-year-old man still faces an arson charge. 

Police say emergency crews responded to a restaurant engulfed in flames just before 3 a.m. in Nobleton, a community in King Township. 

Firefighters put out the fire and found a body inside. 

This report by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was first published Feb. 27, 2025. 

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