Joseph Gingras set fire to a friend's house following a long night of drinking and drugging four years ago.
The Sept. 22, 2019 blaze destroyed the Batchewana First Nation residence and severely injured the occupant's cousin.
Gingras, 46, also suffered burns, Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio heard Monday in a four-page agreed statement of facts provided by the Crown.
He pleaded guilty to arson (intentionally causing fire damage to property) and aggravated assault.
At the time, the accused was staying at Darrell Johnson's home and in a downward spiral, excessively consuming alcohol and drugs, prosecutor Robert Skeggs said.
On Sept. 21, Johnson's cousin Thomas Boissoneau dropped by the home and the trio started partying — drinking liquor and beer and consuming cocaine.
Gingras and Johnson also were using crystal meth, and Boissoneau consumed benzodiazepines and marijuana.
The partying continued well into the following day.
At some point on Sept. 22, Johnson went to bed, while the other two men carried on without him.
Gingras left to get more beer with money Boissoneau gave him.
He returned empty-handed, but "appeared to be very high," Skeggs said.
Johnson was still asleep when an emotional Boissoneau began talking about his own life, and how he wanted to die. Gingras tried to talk him out of it.
While searching for some cigarettes, the accused spotted a gasoline canister.
Gingras decided to scare Boissoneau out of his suicidal thoughts.
He suggested Boissoneau set himself on fire, and then poured gas on him, Varpio heard.
Gingras wasn't serious, but suggested they both could set themselves on fire.
"He started pouring gasoline around the house in an effort to start a fire and waved a lighter at Boissoneau," Skeggs said.
"He thought this would show Boissoneau that his suicide talk was absurd."
Johnson awoke to see Gingras, holding a lighter and spreading gasoline around the living room.
He then poured gas on Johnson, who indicated he thought Gingras was joking around.
Boissoneau again started talking about suicide and poured gas on himself.
"Boissoneau and Gingras showered themselves in gasoline," Skeggs told the court.
Johnson went to a neighbour's home to get help.
At Johnson's request, she went to his house to try to calm the two men down and get them to leave the residence.
She saw a small fire, and Gingras coming towards her with a lighter.
He was so intoxicated that he was "barely understandable."
She didn't see Boissoneau.
Fearing for her safety, she left.
When she returned to her residence, where Johnson was, they realized his house was on fire.
"They saw Boissoneau in the house engulfed in flames."
He came outside and the pair ran to help him.
"Johnson pulled Boissoneau to the ground in an effort to put out the flames."
While they were helping Boissoneau, Gingras tried to leave on a three-wheeler all-terrain vehicle.
He was so intoxicated he struggled to get it started, and the neighbour could hear him talking "gibberish."
Gingras eventually managed to start the ATV and police spotted him as he was fleeing.
He lost control of the vehicle and ended up in a ditch.
When officers arrested him, they seized a lighter.
Boissoneau was airlifted to a Toronto hospital with life-threatening burns to 35 per cent of his body.
He remained in critical condition until Oct. 31, 2019 and when he later was released from hospital required home care.
Gingras was taken to Sault Area Hospital's intensive care unit with burns to 15 per cent of his body.
"He was sedated and intubated for 72 hours," and later was taken to the Algoma Remand and Treatment Centre.
At the request of defence lawyer Angela Ruffo and the Crown, Varpio ordered pre-sentence and Gladue reports to be prepared for the sentencing hearing.
A date for sentencing will be determined on July 19.