Edmonton soldier charged with attempted murder of her 3 children

A soldier who works at Canadian Forces Base Edmontonhas been charged with the attempted murder of her three children.

Cpl. Chantal Jadwiga Condie, 41, also faces arson charges after afire at their home on the base on July 20, 2015, according to courtrecords.

She has been out on bail and was set to enter a plea Thursday atthe courthouse in St. Albert, Alta.

In a separate civil lawsuit, her ex-husband, Drew Condie, allegesthe children were in their mother's care when the fire broke out inthe basement.

He alleges the fire was initially ruled an accident by militarypolice, but the investigation was later reopened.

No one from the Canadian Armed Forces has commented on theinvestigation.

Suicide note on Fantasyland Hotel stationery

Condie's lawsuit alleges that Chantal Condie gave the children asleeping aid that night and that a letter "in the nature of asuicide note" was found a month after the fire. She denies both inher statement of defence.

The lawsuit says that she took the children to West EdmontonMall's Fantasyland Hotel and Galaxyland amusement park before thefire.

"The defendant treated them to the following: nice and expensiverestaurants, to a day in Galaxyland and to about two movies," saysthe statement of claim."This behaviour was out of the ordinary.

"The minor plaintiffs claim that this 'great' weekend was inpreparation for the defendant's ultimate plan of killing them and herself through fire."

The lawsuit alleges the suicide note was written on FantasylandHotel stationery.

Smoke detectors put in basement, lawsuit alleges

It also alleges that she took three smoke detectors in the homeand put them in the basement before starting a fire and closing thedoor.

None of the allegations has been proven in court. Chantal Condiedenies all of them in her statement of defence.

She suggests it was her former husband or one of the children whostarted the fire. She denies giving the children anything to makethem sleep and denies writing a suicide note.

Chantal Condie also alleges the children's father has a historyof mental illness, alcohol dependency and violence toward her andthe children.

Drew Condie's lawyer said her client was in Saskatchewan on dutywith the military at the time of the fire.

"Her allegation that he was involved in the fire is completelyfalse," said Catherine Christensen in an email.

'Innocent until proven guilty'

Officials with the Canadian Armed Forces have confirmed thatChantal Condie has been a member since 2007 and continues to workwith 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and SignalsSquadron.

She is a supply technician and has not deployed, said a statement from Capt. Bonnie Wilken.

"Once arrested the member was taken into military police custodyand later released under conditions," she said.

Wilken said the Forces is a responsible organization.

"If one of our members is convicted of a serious crime, thatperson will be held accountable for their actions," said the statement.

"Members charged are innocent until proven guilty. Theyare monitored closely, and provided with mental and emotionalsupport resources as necessary."