Linden man remanded for killing sister, niece in house fire

A man accused of maliciously setting fire to a home which resulted in the deaths of his sister and niece was arraigned on two counts of murder on Friday. Appearing virtually before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was 33-year-old Akali Moore.
The indictable charges to which he was not required to plead, stated that he murdered Cheryl Moore and her niece, Eukeila Adams, 12, during the course of arson on a dwelling house.
Akali was remanded to prison and will return to court on September 7.
The fire was set to the Silvertown, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) house, reportedly with kerosene, on Monday, August 14 at around 23:45h.
The fire rapidly consumed the two-storey house, leaving the girl, who was celebrating her 12th birthday, and her 50-year-old aunt trapped inside.
By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the house had already been engulfed in flames.
Despite the best efforts of firefighters, both victims could not have been saved.
According to neighbours and family members, Akali seemed to be going after his sister, Cheryl, as he had threatened to kill her earlier that day while brandishing a cutlass.
He had also reportedly threatened to burn the house down.
The deadly fire was reportedly the result of months of sibling conflict. Adams’s mother told this publication that she learnt of her daughter’s tragic passing via social media.
Akali was arrested during the wee hours of Tuesday, August 15, while hiding in a clump of bushes. (G1)