The evidence pointed to one inescapable conclusion: Ben Maize tunneled into his neighbor’s apartment. Justice Eric Tolppanen delivered the verdict Monday, dismissing suggestions that another party was responsible for the bizarre break-in.
The unsettling events unfolded between August 5th and September 5th of the previous year, while Betty Golightly was away staying with family. During her month-long absence, Maize meticulously breached the wall separating their ground-floor units.
He didn’t simply damage the drywall; Maize used power tools to drill four vertical holes and then cut a deliberate opening. This wasn’t a random act of vandalism, but a calculated effort to gain access to the space behind the wall.
The judge detailed how Maize had previously cut an opening in his own drywall, then breached the wood separating the apartments. He strategically positioned a ladder, creating a pathway to climb into the hidden space behind Golightly’s unit.
While the opening he created was small, Tolppanen confirmed it was undeniably large enough for an adult to pass through. Once inside, Maize didn’t steal anything of significant value; instead, he engaged in unsettling acts of mischief.
Golightly returned home on September 5th to find she couldn’t enter her own apartment. Maize had secured the front door with a hotel-style latch, effectively locking her out. The Crown prosecutor, Petter Hurich, argued convincingly that Maize was the only logical suspect.
Maize, acting as his own counsel, attempted to cast doubt by pointing to the lack of a deadbolt on his front door, suggesting someone else could have easily entered. However, the judge swiftly dismissed this claim as illogical.
Tolppanen reasoned that even with an unsecured door, the sheer complexity of the operation – the planning, the tools, the precise cuts, the ladder placement – made it unreasonable to believe another individual could have carried it out. The scope of the actions demanded a single, focused perpetrator.
Throughout the reading of the verdict, Maize remained outwardly impassive, occasionally stifling a yawn. He wore a necklace and crucifix visible against his remand overalls, offering a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, which Maize intends to navigate without legal representation. He remains in custody, awaiting the consequences of his actions.
