Fifty-six-year-old Christopher Harry Bramble of Lot 39 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown perished in a fire that consumed the home he had shared with his reputed wife in the wee hours of Monday.
What remains of the wooden structure
His remains were discovered in the ruins of his former dwelling after the flames had been extinguished. They are currently at the Lyken’s Funeral Home.
Bramble’s reputed wife, Jewel Coats, who suffered burns to her hands and about her body, was evacuated from the burning one-flat wooden building by persons at the scene. She reportedly was covered in blood, and had told her rescuers that Bramble was not at home. However, it is now being alleged that she had set the home on fire.
According to information received, smoke was seen emanating from the home in the wee hours of Monday, and alerted neighbours managed to evacuate Coates from the building even as they summoned the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
When <<Guyana Times>> visited the scene on Monday morning, relatives of the dead man were considering their next move as they grieved the loss of Bramble.
His daughter Tameka Bramble recalled that she received a call at about 12:30h, informing that her father’s house was in flames and he did not survive.
“I just get a call that my father die; so when I came around — cause I live just around there — I see the house in flames,” the woman stated.
She noted that when they arrived, a neighbour broke the section of the wall to get the occupants out of the house. However, he managed to pull Coats out of the blaze, and was reportedly told by the injured woman that Bramble was not at home. The woman was covered in blood.
“He break down the wall and get she out! But when he ask about Harry, she said he went to Queenstown! So everybody believe that they (the 2 occupants) were out the house. When she come out now, she whole body covered with blood and some small burns… When the fire done, then we see he body by the door like he trying to escape.”
Neighbours and the man’s relatives believe that the 36-year-old Coates had stabbed Bramble, locked the doors and windows, and then proceeded to set the house on fire.
Meanwhile, Toya (only name given), niece of the deceased, told this publication that Coats was a frequent imbiber, and this had caused problems between the couple.
“Normally she does just drink; that’s the issue. They been living here for just over two years. I think she drink, cause that’s a norm, and every day is something. She chop he in he head, stab he, try to slit he by he throat with a razor blade…all kinda things,” Toya revealed.
“This could’ve been avoided if they used to take actions against her when we would make reports! But they would just let her go every time,” the man’s daughter claimed.
“She very, very abusive! You know how much time we talk to he? Nothing never really making any sense to he! He ain’t want part from she; and then, every time she go at the station, she making a false accusation against he. Is like the Police does just loose she like hours after, cause they does get fed up of she at the station. Then she free back on the road,” Bramble’s niece asserted.
This publication understands that the couple’s two-year relationship had produced one child, but the late Bramble had five children from his previous marriage.
Coats is nursing burn wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) under Police guard, while Bramble’s charred remains have been taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home.
An investigation has been launched.
