Shortly after he was apprehended by Police after being on the run for a few days, an alleged abusive husband accused of setting fire to his wife’s house in the furtherance of an argument claimed that he fears for his life following threats from his reputed spouse to “poison him slowly” to death and requested a medical examination when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer to an arson charge, on Monday morning.
Kerwin Jarvis pleaded not guilty to the charge which detailed that on October 17, 2017, at Da Silva and D’Abreu Streets, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to the dwelling house of June Maccalmont, with a person being therein.
The 45-year-old man related that he is a father of three with no previous or pending matters before the courts.
However, Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves revealed that a charge of similar nature is likely to be brought against the defendant in the near future.
Moreover, the accused had reportedly confessed to Police in a caution statement following his arrest. Bail was refused and Jarvis will spend time in prison until his next court appearance on November 13, 2017.
The court heard that on the day in question, the accused returned home form work and locked himself in the bedroom and gathered some clothing items. He reportedly exited the room and dumped the bundle of clothing on the floor and secured the door before pouring a liquid substance on the fabric and setting same ablaze.
According to the Police case, the man proceeded to choke his wife and told her that they were going to burn to their deaths together. However, the complaint reportedly managed to escape through a window.
The fire also managed to spread to the neighbour’s house and charges are expected to be filed shortly.
The neighbour had indicated to media operatives that she was asleep when she heard her children screaming and it was only when she got out of her bedroom that she realized that her neighbour’s house was on fire.
