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Man, 28, charged with 2nd-degree murder, arson in deaths of married couple

A 28-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Geda Wodisso and Zenabu Gula in a fire early Saturday.

Geda Wodisso and Zenabu Gula died after fire in mixed-use building on Atlantic Avenue Saturday

CBC News ·
A brick building with a burned mattress laying outside
Firefighters and police were called about a fire at this mixed-use building on Atlantic Avenue early Saturday morning, where they found Geda Wodisso and Zenabu Gula, a married couple who were pronounced dead in hospital. (Ron Dhaliwal/CBC)

A 28-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of a married couple after a fire in Winnipeg on Saturday.

Firefighters and police were called to a fire in a mixed-use building on Atlantic Avenue shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, where they found Geda Wodisso and Zenabu Gula, police said in a news release Friday. 

The married couple were pulled out of one of the suites in the three-storey building and taken in critical condition to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. 

Two other people were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire. 

A photo of a building on fire.
The fire burns early Saturday morning. (Submitted by Kimberley Houle)

On Wednesday, police arrested Alex Donald Courchene, 28, in connection with the arson-related double homicide.

Investigators said the deceased married couple and Courchene didn't know each other.

Courchene is in custody and has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of arson disregarding human life. 

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