Arsonist for sentence June 30

Elton Samuel, of Kerchan Trace, Cunupia yesterday pleaded guilty to arson before Justice Larry Lalla at the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court.

In outlining the State’s case, prosecutor Candia James told the court that two witnesses, Samuel’s cousin Christian Durant and Robert Besson, leader of a nearby Baptist church, had seen the 26-year-old Samuel sprinkling gasoline on his grandmother’s house before setting it ablaze on the morning of February 3, 2002.

Samuel, the prosecutor said, had earlier been engaged in a heated argument with his grandmother Frances Nelson over a pair of shoes.

The court heard that Samuel, who lived with his grandmother and uncle Christopher Nelson, got angry and began using obscene language. His uncle ordered him out of the house and Samuel threatened to “take the place in the evening” if he did not get his shoes.

The fire services arrived on the scene shortly after the fire had been set, but by then the house had been completely destroyed. Damage was estimated at $20,000.

The 26-year-old father of two was charged on November 6, 2002 by PC Simeon Guelmo. In his plea of mitigation, Samuel’s attorney Kenneth O’ Brien highlighted that his client had no previous convictions and that he had offered compensation in the sum of $5,000 to be made in two payments. Samuel, the attorney said, had apologised to the victims and had reconciled with them.