The community of Cummings Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was in the wee hours of Tuesday morning swept in an uproar as the house of a seemingly happy family went up in flames.
This is after the wife, Bursene Walters, a primary school teacher, allegedly doused her husband, Richard Walters with kerosene and subsequently threw a lit match at the sleeping man while their teenaged son was asleep in an adjoining room.
Awaken by the commotion, the father of two rushed to save his 16-year-old son after which the duo escaped the burning building. At that time, his wife was said to have already fled the scene, leaving the two behind to perish.
Guyana Times visited the scene of the now entirely gutted one storey home, during which neighbours recapped the horror that struck their village just after 01:00h Tuesday morning.
Neighbours recalled hearing the man shouting, “Murder! Murder!” and ran out to see the building engulfed in flames. While rushing to the scene, they (neighbours) alerted the Fire Service but upon the tender’s arrival some 15 minutes later, it was too late.
Even though neighbours are unaware of the circumstances which led to the incident, they relayed their understanding of what transpired.
“From what I hear is that he went sleeping and he wake up and find she throwing the kero on he and she just scratch the match and throw it pon the bed and run out the house. Then the man go wake up he son and loose the dogs and so and run out, but by then the whole house deh done engulfed,” the neighbour explained.
Moreover, Guyana Times understands the couple had been living at their Lot 1419 Cummings Park, Sophia residence for about 15 years and share two sons; the older one being 18 years old.
However, according to reports, the teacher had accused her husband of having an affair, which he denied. As such, it is believed that this was the reason behind the woman’s actions.
“They don’t come out and associate a lot so if they have domestic problems it would be indoors. Nobody don’t hear like they fight and stuff like that,” a neighbour stated.
Nevertheless, this incident comes as a shock to those living within the area as they are not aware of the couple having marital issues. In fact, they indicated that the woman always appeared to be respectable and stable.
Richard Walters sustained minor burn injuries about his body and subsequently received treatment at the Sophia Health Centre. After suffering the loss of all of their belongings, man and his two children are now seeking refuge at family members living nearby.
Meanwhile, his wife is reportedly still on the run and is said to be hiding at relatives in Berbice. As such, Police are on the search for the woman accused of arson as investigations into the incident continue. (Ashraf Dabie)
