Grand jury delivers death-penalty indictment against Canadian

Veillette originally admitted to setting fire to his home after stabbing his wife, Nadya Ferrari-Veillette, to death on Jan. 11.

His four children, Marguerite, 8, Vincent, 4, and 2-year-old twins Mia and Jacob died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

In recent published reports he accused his wife of attacking him with a knife and a frying pan and setting the fire.

That's not the same story told in court testimony and evidence presented by police and the county coroner's staff.

Mason Det. Jerome Deidesheimer said on Jan. 22 in Mason Municipal Court there were blood drops that led from the master bedroom where the couple struggled to the garage where Veillette allegedly grabbed a gasoline can.

Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove testified physical evidence showed Nadya was dead when the fire was started.

In order for a person to be indicted for the death penalty, several conditions must be met: The person must be charged with aggravated murder, and one or more aggravating circumstances must be present.

Aggravated murder includes, but is not limited to, premeditated murder or murder committed in tandem with another felony, such as arson, or killing someone under the age of 13.

Veillette, who worked as a self-employed engineer and has owned several businesses, remains in jail.

According to the indictment, he is scheduled to appear for a video arraignment March 7.

Robert Fischer, who is qualified to serve as co-counsel in a death penalty case, said it's plausible for Veillette to claim self-defence where Nadya is concerned, but the case as a whole can't be easily explained away.

``There is no self defence on the four children under the age of 13,'' he said. ``So the fact that four people under the age of 10 are dead, as a result of a seemingly, extraordinarily senseless act, makes it more gruesome than a typical case.''

Cox News Service

© CanWest News Service 2008

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