A man described as a menace, reportedly went berserk yesterday morning and burned down his Ogle, East Coast Demerara home. Up to press time he was assisting the police with their investigation.
Neighbours told Stabroek News that the man made no attempt to save the one bedroom structure where he lived alone, but tossed a bag of clothing outside before fleeing the burning house.
When Stabroek News arrived on scene what remained of the wooden Lot 27 Railway Line house was still smoking.
Margaret Martin said that after 9 am she heard knocking coming from the structure and then moments later she saw a fireball.
She recalled telling the man to get water to throw on the flames. “He just stand up there looking at me and then he thrown all he clothes outside and started shouting for fire and help,” Martin added.
The woman said the man was later taken away from the scene by police.
Meanwhile, another resident told this newspaper, that the man was recently released from prison and was in the habit of tormenting neighbours. She explained that he was incarcerated for assaulting a neighbour and her children. He also recently broke into a home and stole a quantity of cash, the woman told this newspaper adding that the man had threatened to harm her on several occasions.