Alleged arsonist arrested after setting house on fire while family slept
A labourer was taken into Police custody after he allegedly attempted to set a house on fire while a family was asleep.
The fire was reportedly set in the wee hours of Friday. The alleged perpetrator is said to be a 28-year-old man of Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Police stated that they are investigating a fire set on the dwelling house of Deodat Williams also called “Nun Hand” a cattle farmer of Lot 84 Alness, Corentyne.
Williams reportedly told investigators that he was in his bed with his 47-year-old wife when he was awakened by barking dogs.
The doormats that were used to start the fire
He reportedly got up to check when he saw flames under his house. As such, he raised an alarm. As he ran out of the house, he reportedly saw the suspect, with whom he had previous misunderstandings, scaling the fence and subsequently escaping.
Ishwari Chetram, an occupant of the house, recalled that her father attempted to put out the blaze. At the time there were three adults and four children in the building.
She explained that earlier in the night, her other family members attended a wake and her father was left at home. She said they returned home at around midnight and went straight to bed.
“So, after he couldn’t put out the fire, he called us and we wake up and come and help,” she added.
The fire had already damaged items in a safe situated a short distance from the door.
“He take the mats from the step and the mat that was in front of the door and push them under the door and throw gasoline and then light it,” Chetram revealed.
Meanwhile, Williams told Guyana Times that he and the suspect have an ongoing court matter and that the suspect is currently on a bond to keep the peace.
He said on Thursday the suspect was at his home and verbally abused his wife. However, it was not until Thursday evening that he was made aware of it, adding that he had planned to confront him the next morning.
