A Fort Collins beekeeper heard the evidence against him in his attempted homicide and arson case last week. In our last post we discussed the fact that a watch found at the construction site may have belonged to the beekeeper, but that the watch does not definitively put him on the site of the arson which burned the Penny Flats and the Mason Street Flats.

Authorities say that they also have evidence of the man's facial shavings from his home. Police believe that these may have been singed during the fire. The man said that he was injured near a fire pit however, so it is unclear whether prosecutors will be able to use the man's burnt shavings to tie him to the Penny Flats arson.

Authorities also found a black hooded sweatshirt, fire wood, and start sticks at the man's home, which only prove that he occasionally enjoyed camping or grilling. It is unclear whether the prosecution will come across any better evidence against the beekeeper or whether the prosecution's case will solely consist of circumstantial evidence.

The man's family and friends strongly protest his innocence. The beekeeper's brother said that the beekeeper "is a charitable man, who is under suspicion because he was generously and vigorously contributing to the Occupy movement."

The brother also stressed that the beekeeper is a "strong advocate for liberty and responsibility."

The most difficult part of this prosecution will be establishing the beekeeper's motive. It is unclear why an Occupy Fort Collins protestor would seek to achieve by torching a nearby building. The Occupy movement is a largely nonviolent movement dedicated generally to addressing the income disparity in the nation. It is unclear what aims torching a building would have for any protestor or whether any prosecutor will be able to prove that this protestor had malevolent intentions.

Source: The Coloradoan, "Evidence linking Fort Collins fire to activist detailed," Jan. 21, 2012