A Crown spokesman says gaps in evidence resulted in the decision to stay arson charges against a man arrested after an explosion at a fast food restaurant in Vancouver last year.

Neil McKenzie says some expert evidence is missing, but prosecutors still hope the evidence will become available and new charges could be laid.

Kamaljeet Singh Josan was accused of two counts of arson after an explosion at a Taco Del Mar restaurant on West Broadway Avenue in February of last year.

He was charged following the blast after spending time in hospital recovering from massive burns.