Fireman in court over rum arson attack

ANOTHER brother, this one a fireman, has appeared in court for the Easter Monday dousing of Puncheon rum on a man from Moruga and setting him ablaze.

Keron Rebeiro, 28, of Basse Terre, Moruga, appeared in the Rio Claro magistrate’s court before Rae Roopchan, for causing grievous bodily harm to Raymond La Fortune, of Rock River, Moruga.

On Thursday last, Rebeiro’s brother, Richie, 36, a fisherman from Basse Terre, appeared before the magistrate on the same charge.

The charges against the brothers stemmed from an incident at a bar in Moruga in which La Fortune, 55, was doused with Puncheon then set on fire. He was treated at San Fernando General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and, last week, was placed in the hospital’s burns unit where he was warded up to yesterday.

The charges have been laid indictably and yesterday, attorney Petronella Basdeo who represented Keron, told Roopchan that he was a fire guardian stationed at Princes Town Fire Station. He has no previous criminal convictions. She said that La Fortune was no longer listed in critical condition, having been placed on a ward where he was being treated. She also said that Keron surrendered to police at the weekend when he heard that there was a warrant for his arrest.

Roopchan granted him $100,000 bail or $15,000 cash alternative. His brother is on the same bail, but the magistrate reiterated her warning yesterday to Keron as he had done with Rebeiro, that they are to stay 25 feet from La Fortune.

The brothers will reappear on May 29.