Guyanese on murder, arson charges

No sooner had she appeared before the court, than Audrey Ann Andrews complained of feeling unwell and had to be taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital for treatment. Andrews was in custody since Saturday, following a fire at Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, in which a man and his stepson perished.

Dressed in a white top and blue denim skirt, Andrews appeared before Mc Nicolls in the Eighth Magistrates’ Court. After the Chief Magistrate asked the prisoner her name, he read the charges.

It is alleged that on May 6 at 94 Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, she attempted to murder Tony Williams, Mervin Anthony Joseph, Colin Henry and Dexter James Williams.

Henry, the common-law husband of the accused, remains warded at Port-of-Spain General Hospital suffering from burns.

It is also alleged that on the same day and at the same location, Andrews murdered Junior Fortune, aged 30, and his three-year-old stepson, Josiah Toby. Fortune and Toby were found burnt to death inside the ruins of the two-storey apartment building.

A seventh charge was also laid against the woman. She was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to a dwelling house with Fortune, Toby, Tony Williams, Joseph, Henry, and Dexter Williams in it.

Mc Nicolls said the charges were laid indictably so the accused was not allowed to plead. Mc Nicolls remanded Andrews into custody until May 16.