KINGSTON, Jamaica — A trio, charged with malicious destruction of property after they were caught occupying a mansion in Chancery Hall, Kingston, where ten locks worth $40,000 were damaged and replaced, are set to return to court in May for trial.

Appearing before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, one of the accused Alwayne Edwards told Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell that he was “forced” to move into the mansion.

According to court documents, the complainant, who is the owner of the home who resides elsewhere, received a call indicating that her home had been broken into.

Upon arrival at the “mansion”, as described by prosecutors, with the police in tow, she found the three accused — Edwards, his sister Debbie-Ann Richards and his girlfriend Lissa Peterkin — living inside.

Up to ten locks that had been purchased by the complainant had been cut off and replaced, the court heard.

However, the couple were firm in their insistence that they had gone to the home under instructions from an individual they believed to be the owner and said they hadn’t been there long before police came to rouse them.

Edwards explained that a man, known to him only by the name of “Chris”, had instructed him to take up residence in the home.

“I live next door,” Edwards, a gardener, explained, claiming that Chris had in the past paid him several thousand dollars to keep the yard groomed.

“Him force me!” Edwards exclaimed in the courtroom, adding that Chris had been pressuring him for several months to take up lodgings at the property.

Upon their arrival, Edwards said the locks had already been removed and Chris provided him with money to purchase new ones. He further revealed that he did not know Chris’ last name.

This admittance sent the courtroom into an uproar as Judge Burell said, “You should go to prison for being a silly billy — You didn’t see something suspicious about that?”

Appearing contrite and eager to explain, his girlfriend said they had not explored the place which was still under construction.

“We went there Sunday and by Monday the lady say a her house…we just occupy one little part,” Peterkin said.

The complainant, an attorney, was not present in court, nor was the third accused — Edwards’ sister.

A warrant was issued for both women, a bench warrant for the complainant and a warrant for the arrest of the sister.

The accused are to return to court on April 1st ahead of their trial in May.

— Dana Malcolm