Man who set wife on fire found guilty of manslaughter

A 37-year-old man who set his wife on fire in 2008 would know his fate on December 6.

Levi Dolloway also called “Roger” was, yesterday, found not guilty on the charge of murder of his wife, but was found guilty of manslaughter. Dolloway was charged with killing his wife on June 7, 2008. The case is before Justice Hayden St Clair-Douglas and a 12-member jury in the San Fernando High Court.

In a previous hearing, State Attorney Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal said Dolloway’s wife, Arlene, 26, had two children who were four years and two months old respectively.

On that fateful day, she was cooking roti and patchoi for her husband in the kitchen of their home. Sometime during the night, the State prosecutor said, an argument erupted between them and Dolloway fetched a bottle of gasoline. Dougdeen-Jaglal said Dolloway allegedly threw the gasoline on Arlene. She was burnt all over and was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where she died ten days later.

The prosecutor said when police interviewed Dolloway, he said he was holding a gas container and his wife put out her hand. The container with the gas was three-quarter filled and, when she pulled her hand away, some of the gas fell and all he heard was “Voom!”

Yesterday, the foreman of the jury announced that Dolloway was found guilty of manslaughter on the ground of lack of intent. The judge also ordered a bio-social report from the prison and a probations officers report. Dolloway is represented by attorneys Cedric Neptune and Marissa Bobb. The case was adjourned to December 6.