ST JAMES, Jamaica — A 72-year-old St James electrician is now at the centre of a fiery family saga in which he allegedly attempted to burn down his child’s home.

Junior Malcolm stood before Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday to answer to a charge of arson. The allegation is that he set his daughter’s home ablaze, and the fear is that he will do it again.

Prosecutors allege that Malcolm set fire to the house owned by his daughter and her husband, a $38 million property where he had been allowed to live.

Malcolm’s attorney, Chrishana Fregenette, told the court that efforts to secure bail had been hampered because “the persons who he is to reside with were not present in court because they were having difficulties in terms of the distance in travelling to court”. She added, however, that arrangements were now in place for him to live at another family address, and urged the court not to confine a man of his age to the cells.

Fregenette pleaded for bail in a reasonable sum. But the prosecution forcefully pushed back. They argued that, if released, Malcolm was likely to reoffend. According to the clerk of court, this was Malcolm’s second attempt to set fire to the house.

The court was advised that there is a long-running domestic dispute.

“The situation is that Mr Malcolm’s daughter is married to the complainant in this matter. They purchased this house for $38 million and allowed Mr Malcolm to reside on the premises. They purchased this house from Mr Malcolm’s wife and it is that Mr Malcolm has the propensity to commit the offence for which he is before the court. It does not appear that the notion that encourages him to burn the house will disappear anytime soon,” the clerk said.

“I am of the view that he may be encouraged to go back to the house, if granted bail, to burn it down this time, and may in fact succeed this time around,” the clerk added.

According to the prosecution, Malcolm was evaluated at Cornwall Regional Hospital where it was determined that “he was in good mental health”. There was also a recommendation for the complainant and his wife to collect him from the hospital.

“It does not appear that Mr Malcolm is operating from any medical defect. He just intends to burn down the house, and he will do so if granted bail,” the clerk stated.

Judge Fairclough-Hylton noted with concern that the defendant had allegedly made two attempts to burn the property and that nothing suggested he was mentally unfit.

Attorney Fregenette requested a short mention date for someone to “come and take responsibility” for Malcolm. In addition, the court also learnt that the official fire report remains outstanding.

Judge Fairclough-Hylton ordered that the elderly electrician be remanded in custody until December 5, when the matter will again be mentioned.