Next Friday is decision day for self-confessed arsonist Kimberly Shantelle Brathwaite.
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That’s when she will learn the punishment for starting the fire, which began when she torched her boyfriend’s clothes, and which went on to damage a six-apartment building complex.
Brathwaite, 33, of Moncrieffe, Station Hill, St Philip, was back in the No. 5A Supreme Court yesterday, where she had pleaded guilty, at a previous Session of the Continuous Sittings, to damaging a building at Fairholme Gardens, St Michael, owned by Linda Drakes, by fire on September 15, 2018.
Senior State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce told the court that confirmed expenses for replacing of items, repairs and repainting the building had totalled $40 415.07 Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim told the court his client was requesting at least 24 months in which to pay the money as compensation.
However, that time frame was shot down by Justice Christopher Birch. Pilgrim then asked the court to temper justice with mercy.
The judge adjourned the matter until next week when he will sentence Brathwaite.
McMeo-Boyce, in outlining the facts, said Brathwaite and her boyfriend resided in an apartment at Lot 5 Fairholme Gardens. She moved out as the two sought to decide the future of their relationship after infidelities on both sides.
On September 15, her boyfriend invited a female friend to the apartment. Brathwaite turned up around 9 p.m., knocked and declared she knew he had a woman inside.
When she gained entry, she became physically violent towards her boyfriend. The girl left.
However, a friend of the boyfriend arrived, as did Brathwaite’s sister. Brathwaite had called her sister telling her: “Come and get me before I do something stupid. I can’t take Alex no more.”
Smoke
She continued attacking the man until he left the apartment.
After his departure, the woman rampaged through the house, breaking items. Her sister and her boyfriend’s friend left her alone upstairs.
Shortly after, a neighbour realised a room was on fire after smelling smoke. The other tenants in the building were alerted and evacuated.
Meanwhile, Brathwaite came downstairs and said: “Wunna better check upstairs.”
Those who were downstairs went upstairs and discovered a pile of clothes and a mattress on fire. They tried to extinguish it by dousing it with a bucket of water but failed. Fire officials were called.
When the landlady arrived, Brathwaite told her: “I’m probably the last person you want to talk to. I did not think it woulda catch. I’m sorry.”
The arsonist was taken to Oistins Police Station where she told police: “I took Alex’s clothes and threw them on the bed and light them.” She later declined to dictate a statement.
An assessment stated the building owner had suffered $276 473 worth of damage.
Four of the six apartments could not be occupied because of soot, water damage or a chemical scent.
The insurance company, however, only covered $173 402. (HLE)
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