BRIDGEWATER, N.S. (CP) -- Stewart Veinotte was sentenced Monday to 34 months in prison for the ``vindictive, selfish, calculated act'' of torching the family home to prevent his wife from getting it in a divorce.
Justice Margaret Stewart of Nova Scotia Supreme Court said burning the home in Cookville, N.S., was a ``senseless, spiteful act motivated by selfishness and control.''
Veinotte, 47, still tries to control his ex-wife Gwen by refusing to work to pay off their debts or give her spousal support, the judge said.
Gwen Veinotte said in a victim-impact statement that she has lost everything she owned and has been branded a high risk by insurance companies.
Crown attorney Peter Craig said the woman must still pay the mortgage on the home, which was worth more than $70,000, and her car insurance has tripled.
Insurers have deemed her such a high risk because of her husband's actions that she can only get vehicle coverage through the Facility Association.
``It's also been difficult for her finding rental accommodations because prospective landlords expect Mr. Veinotte to come over and do something similarly horrific,'' Craig said.
Witnesses testified Veinotte sat on the tailgate of his pickup truck calmly smoking a cigarette as his home burned behind him, telling those who asked that he had set the fire.
He had pleaded not guilty, claiming he only meant to set the grass around the house on fire.
Craig said the ordeal has cost Gwen Veinotte about $200,000.
Defence lawyer Tom Feindel had asked for a conditional sentence including house arrest for his client.
But the judge noted Veinotte planned the fire, which could have spread to other homes or hurt someone.
The judge also pointed out Veinotte has expressed no remorse and won't accept responsibility for his crime.
``The public would lose confidence in the administration of justice if a conditional sentence was ordered in these circumstances,'' Craig said.
