A London courtroom Friday heard how a Christmas Beer Olympics party at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Richmond Street turned into an inferno. This after rubbing alcohol was dumped on a flaming torch or goblet that was being passed around in the basement on Dec. 2, 2025. In seconds, six people were badly burned and had to be rushed to hospital after emergency crews arrived late that night. Days later Bryson Donald, 20, would be charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. In court he pleaded guilty to the offence after admitting that he was the one who dumped isopropyl alcohol, causing the basement to erupt in flames. The court heard that at the time, people at the party were chanting, “Do it, do it, do it.” Kaitlin Jeffrey was one of those who suffered burns to her face, neck, arms, and legs. She has endured a number of treatments and surgeries and in her emotional victim impact statement, she told Donald and the court, “Because of you my life has changed forever...that night should have never happened.” “For you, this may have become a memory, for me this is something I will continue to live with every single day for the rest of my life,” she added. Another burn victim, Kate Ellis, said of her injuries, “I couldn’t walk for months and was on crutches for weeks...after the incident I have become depressed.” “Since the fire anxiety has become part of my daily life...I know first-hand how quickly a small flame can become catastrophic,” burn victim Grace Bull told the court. “I had just turned 18... My introduction to adulthood was trauma, recovery, surgeries, scars, and uncertainty.” Crown attorney Bianca DiBiase asked the Donald to receive an 18-to-24-month conditional sentence of house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor, along with two years probation. “This was not a case of momentary carelessness... It was a dangerous situation in a confined space,” said DiBiase. Defence lawyer Katie Heathcote argued that Donald should receive an 18-to-24 month suspended sentence along with probation. “It occurred in the course of a university beer Olympics… A flaming goblet was being passed around,” she said. When he addressed the court Donald said, “I’m very sorry to everyone who has been affected by my actions... It wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone.” Justice Kevin McHugh is expected to hand down his decision on July 23.
