A 61-year-old man who was initially held in connection with a report of Arson in Mayaro that occurred on November 13th was today denied bail on eight counts of Attempted Murder.
Ramsaran Kowlesser, of Mafeking Road, Mafeking Village, Mayaro, was denied bail by Magistrate Debby Ann Bassaw at the Mayaro Magistrates’ Court after being charged on November 15th by PC Farley, of the Mayaro Criminal Investigations Department (CID), with the Attempted Murder of a family of eight.
The family includes three minors – a seven-month-old, a six-year-old and nine-year-old – and four adults – ages, 28, 34 (2), 52, and 71.
Kowlesser was arrested on November 13th by Mayaro CID detectives who responded to a report of Arson along Mafeking Road, Mafeking Village, Mayaro, where a family was awoken by cracking sounds, the smell of smoke and flames at their dwelling house.
According to police reports, at 10 pm on November 12th, 2023, a family retired to bed after securing their home by locking all doors and windows.
At 2.30 am the next day, one of the occupants heard a smashing sound at her bedroom window and later observed that it was broken.
Upon further investigation, she saw a man who allegedly threw a liquid on her and pelt a lit Molotov cocktail in her room causing her to be set afire.
She immediately raised an alarm and the family members began evacuating the house.
The entire house was destroyed by fire.
Officers of the Mayaro CID as well as personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service responded and the fire was eventually completely extinguished.
The family and the suspect were taken for treatment. The woman who was set afire was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital.
The suspect was later charged with the offences.