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Arson charges against Oakville man dropped in court by Julie Slack Metroland West Media 11 | Thursday, April 21, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Having her husband charged with arson was worse than the fire that destroyed the historic Maranatha Log House and Flowers and Décor. On April 5, the former Campbellville resident and owner of the home destroyed by the 2014 fire, Dave McPhee of Oakville was cleared of the charges of arson. Martha McPhee breathed a huge sigh of relief and squeezed her husband's hand in court. Crown Attorney Amanda Camara told court there was no possibility of a conviction in the case, and asked that all charges be dropped and a preliminary inquiry, set for June, be eliminated. "Since the last judicial pre-trial, several expert reports in the field have been assessed," she said. "I had numerous conversations with the officer in charge and see no reasonable possibility of a conviction." Last year, Halton police charged John David McPhee, 73, from Oakville, with arson and four counts of arson, disregard for human life. The fire, which was pegged at an estimated loss of $1.1 million, broke out at the historic landmark, which included a flower shop and bed and breakfast, around 11:30 p.m. on April 29, 2014. Five people inside the home, including a couple of guests and Dave and Martha McPhee, were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Fire destroyed the Maranatha Log House and Flowers and Décor on April 29, 2014. A year later the owner faced several charges in relation to the blaze. Tuesday, those charges were thrown out of court. | Metroland West Media file photo The McPhees owned the home for 27 years. Members of Halton Regional Police's arson team worked with the Ontario Fire Marshal to investigate the fire. According to Martha McPhee the cause of the blaze was never determined, but it was deemed to be arson. The McPhees were thankful and relieved after court on Tuesday. "This (charges) was 10 times worse than the fire that destroyed my business and home," Martha McPhee said, adding that her husband had "even been arrested in front of the grandchildren." Her husband called it "a close second." "I still relive the fire again and again ¬-- it's a loop that goes round and round," he said, a similar story he shared with the Champion in the days following the fire. It was Dave McPhee who alerted the other occupants of the blaze back in 2014. He said he heard a loud bang coming from the flower shop and saw a column of fire from the ceiling extending down to about four feet above the floor. Defence attorney Victor Giourgas said the Crown Attorney was very fair in the case, which could have easily proceeded to a preliminary hearing. "Miss Camara took extra steps to buttress the case," he told the Champion after the decision. "She made things clear and (McPhee) has been vindicated." The McPhees said they are meeting with their insurance company on Thursday (April 7) and they have plans to rebuild the log home. Martha McPhee added that they wouldn't have gotten through the heartache of arson charges without the love and support of the community, friends and family. "The people from Campbellville have been so supportive throughout this mess," she said. "I don't know where we'd be today without them." She pointed to a gold bracelet that she wore to court that was engraved with the word of her beloved B&B. "Maranatha means `He cometh'; it's from the Bible, not many people know that's where it was named from." She's looking forward to moving on now that her husband has been vindicated. Won't Be Beat If you find a cheaper price, simply show us and we will match.* AY ERYD ! 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