Battered Pt Fortin man in court for arson

A POINT Fortin man, battered, bruised and with his head heavily bandaged after he was allegedly beaten, limped into the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer a charge of arson. With pain etched on his face, David Williams struggled to stand before Senior Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes. He was denied bail on charges of breaking and entering and maliciously setting fire to the home of Louisa James, Williams’ alleged ex-lover. Williams was also charged with malicious damage to 25 louvre panes. Williams struggled to remain standing while all the charges were read out. He was remanded in custody and told to reappear in court on September 20. When the charges were read out, Williams denied them and said he wanted bail. However, Magistrate Ramoo-Haynes told Williams the charges against him were of a very serious nature and she had to deal with them accordingly.

Bail was subsequently denied and Williams was advised of his right to apply to a Judge in Chambers for bail. “Have you ever had treatment from St Ann’s? This is not a joke. I have to treat this matter seriously,” Magistrate Ramoo-Haynes asked. Williams said he never went to St Ann’s and that the virtual complainant (Louisa James) was his common-law wife. James, who is now homeless along with her five children, was in court yesterday with two of her children. During the proceedings yesterday, a frustrated Williams blurted out, “She (James) was scared for her life? What about me, I was running for my life. Look at my state, I tell people I was injured and no one has taken a statement from me regarding this beating. My head buss up and I damage real bad.”