Man charged with burning sister over missing shoe

Cobbler Brian Haywood was yesterday charged with the attempted murder of his sister, who he is accused of setting on fire after an argument over a missing shoe.

Haywood was not required to plead to the charge when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court accused of attempting to kill his sister, Samantha Schwartz.

It is the police’s case that on November 21, at ‘D’ Field, Sophia, Haywood and Schwartz had a misunderstanding over a missing shoe. Haywood accused Schwartz of being responsible for the missing shoe from his shop.  However, the woman denied the allegation and sometime during the argument Haywood allegedly set her alight, with what was said to be gasoline. The matter was reported and Haywood was subsequently arrested and charged.

Brian Haywood
Brian Haywood

Bail was objected to by the police prosecutor, who noted that Schwartz is still an admitted patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Samantha Schwartz
Samantha Schwartz

Schwartz sustained second degree burns to her upper body and the prosecutor stated that her condition is fluctuating.

As a result, Haywood was remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore. The case was adjourned until January 20.