Man on arson charge denied bail
A man who reportedly firebombed another man’s home causing injury to him and his companion was denied bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Twenty-six-year-old Nicky Murray, of a Kingston 13 address, was arrested and charged with arson following the attack on the complainant’s home on May 11.
The court heard that on the day in question, at 2:30 am, the complainant and his companion were asleep when they were awakened by loud barks. They got out of bed, looked through their windows but did not see anything unusual and returned to bed.
However, within seconds of returning to bed, the complainant heard a loud explosion and realised that the blades to one of his windows were shattered.
A second explosion was heard and a burning object fell on the bed. The complainant reportedly looked across and saw that the sheet that was covering his companion was on fire.
It is also reported that the complainant felt heat penetrating his body. He ran to the kitchen and poured water on himself and his girlfriend did the same.
It is also reported that the complainant then heard his neighbour’s gate being slammed and looked through a peep hole and saw two men, one of whom he recognised as ET (the accused) who was standing on one side of the road, while the other man was on the opposite side.
Murray reportedly ran and stopped in front of a motorcar and then shortly after both men ran off onto Maxfield Avenue.
The complainant then proceeded to finish extinguishing the blaze, after which he reported the matter to the police who directed him to go to Kingston Public Hospital where he and his companion were treated and released.
On Wednesday when the matter was mentioned, Murray’s attorney, Davian Vassell, told the court that his client was not in the community at the time of the incident. Vassell also said that he found aspects of the allegations incredible.
“The conditions under which the complainant saw my client through a peep hole defies natural human condition,” he said, noting that someone who has been injured by fire and whose house has caught fire would not be peeping through a hole.
However, Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told him that she did not agree with his assessment and told him to save his concerns for the jury.
The lawyer then told the court that his client was a witness in a murder case against the complainant and that the complainant was using this case to prevent the accused from testifying in the matter. As such, the lawyer demanded an investigation.
However, was instructed by the magistrate to continue his own investigation and to return to the court with facts.
Murray was denied bail and is scheduled to return to court on October 1.
The prosecutor also told the court that the complainant said that he had been threatened by the accused and others since he returned to the community after a court matter.