A Calgary resident faced his own legal proceedings on Monday for allegedly creating a tunnel into his neighbor’s upstairs unit. Ben Maize is facing charges of mischief and break and enter. The incident occurred in the summer of 2025 when Maize and his neighbor, Betty Golightly, resided in the same condominium complex in Coach Hill. Golightly testified that upon returning home on September 5, she found her apartment locked from the inside. She then discovered holes near her fireplace that seemed to lead to a tunnel connecting to the unit below.
There had been a dispute between Golightly and Maize leading up to the incident, although specific details were not disclosed during the one-day trial. Golightly recounted an instance on July 10 when she heard banging on her ceiling, which she believed was caused by Maize. Another interaction occurred on August 2 at Golightly’s door, where she claimed to have recorded a conversation with Maize but did not provide any details or play the video in court.
Expressing concerns for her safety, Golightly mentioned staying with her family intermittently due to fears related to the neighbor below. Maize is accused of tunneling into Golightly’s apartment sometime between August 5 and September 5. When Golightly discovered the damage, she noticed items in her apartment had been disturbed, including a dresser drawer, pantry door, table, and shower curtain.
During the trial, Maize represented himself, with a court-appointed lawyer cross-examining Golightly to avoid direct questioning by the accused intruder. In his defense, Maize highlighted recent renovations in the condo building, suggesting that workers with access to the units could have been involved. He argued that there was no evidence linking him to the damage in Golightly’s apartment or the flooring between their units.
The prosecutor, Petter Hurich, acknowledged animosity between the two parties and the unusual circumstances of a passageway connecting their residences. He contended that the only plausible explanation was involvement from someone with access to both units. The judge, Eric Tolppanen, is expected to deliver a verdict in the upcoming weeks.