The woman who damaged a sixapartment building complex after torching her boyfriend’s clothes and a mattress has been warned that her offence crossed the threshold for a custodial sentence.
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“These facts we have just heard are extremely serious. I need you to understand this matter runs the very serious potential to exceed the threshold for a custodial sentence,” Justice Christopher Birch told arsonist Kimberly Shantelle Brathwaite yesterday.
Brathwaite, 33, of Moncrieffe, Station Hill, St Philip, was in the No. 5A Supreme Court yesterday after she had pleaded guilty, at a previous Session of the Continuous Sittings, to damaging a building at Fairholme Gardens, St Michael, owned by Linda Drakes, by fire on September 15, 2018. The judge adjourned the matter until January 29, next year, when submissions on sentence will be heard. Brathwaite, who was represented by King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, remains on bail until then.
State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce told the court that Brathwaite and her boyfriend resided in an apartment at Lot 5 Fairholme Gardens.
Brathwaite moved out as the two sought to decide the future of their relationship after infidelities on both sides.
On September 15, her boyfriend invited a female friend to the apartment. Brathwaite turned up around 9 p.m., knocked and declared she knew he had a woman inside. When she gained entry, she became physically violent towards her boyfriend. The girl left.
However, a friend of the boyfriend arrived, as did Brathwaite’s sister. Brathwaite had called her sister telling her: “Come and get me before I do something stupid. I can’t take Alex no more.”
She continued attacking the man until he left the apartment.
After his departure, the woman rampaged through the house, breaking items. Her sister and her boyfriend’s friend left her alone upstairs.
Shortly after, a neighbour realised a room was on fire after smelling smoke. The other tenants in the building were alerted and evacuated.
Meanwhile, Brathwaite came downstairs and said: “Wunna better check upstairs.”
Those who were downstairs went upstairs and discovered a pile of clothes and a mattress on fire. They tried to extinguish it by dousing it with a bucket of water but failed.
Fire officials were called. When the landlady arrived, Brathwaite told her: “I’m probably the last person you want to talk to. I did not think it woulda catch. I’m sorry.”
Brathwaite was taken to Oistins Police Station where she told police: “I took Alex’s clothes and threw them on the bed and light them.”
She later declined to dictate a statement.
An assessment said the building owner had suffered $276 473 worth of damage. Four of the six apartments could not be occupied because of soot, water damage or a chemical scent. However, the insurance company, covered only $173 402. (HLE)