Kenford Downer, the man who allegedly set his house on fire with his wife and two young children inside, was yesterday remanded after being charged with three counts of murder.
Thirty-six-year-old Downer, called ‘Tallman’, was yesterday present at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and appeared virtually before Magistrate Crystal Lambert in the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court when he was read the three charges which state that on December 12, 2020 at #4 Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Cuyuni/Mazaruni, he murdered his wife, Carolina Kennedy, 48, and two daughters; Marianna Downer, 5, and Gabriella Kennedy, 3, during the course or furtherance of an arson. Downer was not required to plead to the charges. The matter will be called again on January 27.
According to the police, Downer set his home alight at around 10.30, after he became outraged at Carolina. The police further said that Downer related that he set the fire after he arrived home and overhead Carolina speaking with a man who he suspected she was having an affair with. His two daughters were also in the house when he allegedly doused it with gasoline and set it on fire. The mother and daughters were burnt to death and their bodies were discovered under the debris after the fire was put out. The charred remains were transported to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary.
After his arrest, Downer was escorted to the Bartica Hospital where he was admitted under police guard. It is alleged that after starting the fire he hid in some nearby bushes but was apprehended after a search was conducted. He was then placed in police custody after being discharged from the hospital.
According to relatives, Downer was previously convicted for assaulting Carolina and after he got out of prison, the two rekindled their relationship but the abuse continued. It was also stated that a few days prior to the fire, he had threatened to burn the house down.
