Moruca resident accused of setting neighbour’s house on fire

A North-West District (NWD) resident, who is accused of setting his neighbour’s house on fire, appeared before a city magistrate yesterday to answer to the charge.

Lester Harris, 29, of Moruca, North-West District, Essequibo, stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who read the charge that on October 16, at Moruca, he, maliciously set fire to a dwelling house, the property of Julian Cornelius.  Harris, a tractor operator, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, who was limited to the facts of the matter, had no objections to Harris receiving bail but noted, that it should be granted only under certain conditions since Harris and Cornelius are neighbours in Moruca.

The chief magistrate subsequently granted the accused bail in the sum of $50,000 and ordered him to return to court on January 10, 2017.