Stair removal lands property-owner in court

A woman accused of removing the stairs used by her tenant to gain access to their upper flat apartment was placed on $15,000 bail when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Petal Knight, 31, of Lot 36 Friendship, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charge of disturbing the tenant’s peaceful enjoyment and was granted bail by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton. It is alleged that on April 5, 2012 at Lodge, being the landlord of James Lewis, Knight removed the front steps without Lewis’ consent.

Attorney Gloria Stephney appeared for Knight, whom she said has a child and has a fixed place of abode. She also said that Knight and her brother Brian are co-owners of the property at Lodge. Stephney asked that bail be granted in a reasonable sum. She said that Lewis is no longer a tenant of the home at Lodge.

Lewis, who was present in court, however said that he still occupies the home and accesses the top floor using a ladder. After listening to the submissions, the magistrate granted bail. The parties undertook to have nothing to do with each other during the course of the matter.

Knight was ordered to return to court on May 22.