Guyanese freed of manslaughter, attempted murder charges

(Trinidad Express) – A 41-year-old Guyanese woman charged with two counts of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder was on Tuesday freed by Justice Devan Rampersad.

Audrey-Ann Andrews, a vendor, was freed after State Prosecutor Brent Winter told the court that following consultations with Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, a notice of discontinuance was filed on Monday against Andrews.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that the state’s main witness in the matter, Colin Henry, 36, who is also a Guyanese national, could not be located.

Henry was also the common-law husband of Andrews when the incident occurred.

Andrews was represented by Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and Michelle Solomon.

It was the state’s case that on May 6, 2006, Andrews maliciously started a fire at an apartment on Nelson Street, Port of Spain, following an argument with Henry.

Three-year-old Josiah Tobey and the infant’s stepfather, Junior Fortune, 30, were burnt to death during the fire.

Andrews was also charged with arson and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm against Marvin Anthony Joseph, Tony Williams and Delon James Williams.