Judge takes deadly Lynn arson case under advisement

BOSTON ? State Superior Court Judge Isaac Borenstein on Tuesday took under advisement the cast of a Lynn woman charged with setting a deadly 1999 fire that killed five people in the city’s Highlands.The state Supreme Judicial Court earlier this month overturned a lower court judge’s ruling that suppressed statements made to a court officer by suspect Kathleen Hilton. The SJC also sent the matter back to Borenstein who, sitting in Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge on Tuesday, heard arguments from both sides.Essex County Assistant District Attorney Marcia Slingerland argued the statements by Hilton were made voluntarily and should be allowed as evidence. Defense lawyer Mike Natola offered a totally different version, asserting that the self-incriminating words were uttered involuntarily.Both attorneys submitted memos the judge will weigh before making a determination on Jan. 16 in Salem Superior Court.Hilton stands accused of setting the fire that killed tenants 34-year-old Heriberto Feliciano, his 32-year old wife, Sonia Hernandez, their daughters Maria Felicano, 13, and Sonia Hernandez, 12, and a niece, 11-year-old Glorimar Santiago.Based on statements she made, the fire was set to get back at her son’s teenage ex-girlfriend, who lived in the house with the couple’s two children. The intended targets survived, but the five other died in the fire.Hilton was formally arraigned on five counts of second-degree murder, arson and causing injury to a firefighter in the Feb. 24, 1999 fire at 44-46 High Rock St. At the time of the fire, Hilton was 52 years old and lived at 112 Hollingsworth St. She was found competent to stand trial despite her claims of being pyrokinetic n capable of starting fires with her mind. Arson investigators said the fire was started with scented lamp oil.