Sudbury·ELLIOT LAKE

Defence expected to finish closing statements today in Elliot Lake mall collapse trial

Former engineer Robert Wood has pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal negligence in connection to the roof collapse at the Algo Centre Mall in 2012.
Robert Wood walks to court in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., accompanied by his wife. (Natacha Lavigne/Radio-Canada)

The defence is expected to finish closing submissions today in the Elliot Lake mall collapse trial.

Former engineer Robert Wood has pleaded not guilty to three counts of criminal negligence in connection to the 2012 Algo Centre Mall disaster.

Doloris Perizzolo, 74, and Lucie Aylwin, 37, were killed when the building's roof caved in.

Wood's lawyer Robert MacRae took aim at the mall's owner Bob Nazarian yesterday, saying Nazarian misled Wood by hiding information about continuous leaks.

"I submit it shocking how many engineers and architects were in that mall from the time it was built, and how much of that information was not available," MacRae said.

Nazarian has not been charged, and none of the allegations against him have been proven in court.

Rejean Aylwin, father of Lucie Aylwin, is watching the final days of the court proceedings.

"Well we hope it's going to end pretty soon," he said. "Then when it's all finished we can make a closure. Now every time we go somewhere it's always memories come back and everything's coming back."