Carpenter fights to rebuild life after arson, cutlass attack
A middle-aged mason has been forced to start rebuilding his life, after he lost all of his possessions during an attempt on his life.
On November 1, Edward Durrant of Lowmans Bay was forced to flee his home, after realizing that the house was on fire.
Immediately upon escaping the burning structure, two individuals, who are well known to Durrant, attacked him with cutlasses. He managed to escape after accidentally falling into a ditch and making his way to a neighbourâs house. He spent three days in the hospital nursing chop wounds to his left hand and the right side of his abdomen.
Since the incident, the now unemployed, homeless man has been struggling to rebuild his life.
âIt affecting me badly, because I am a mason and a carpenter. I have real work to do for people, but I canât do them…. All the tools lost in the fire were mine. I am not working.â
His possessions, including all of his clothes, tools, fridge and bed, are valued at $10,000.
When asked why he was attacked, Durrant said he was told that someone told the accused that he had been around their pig pen, which he said was untrue.
â…That is total nonsense, because for the years I live around them, I live around them since 2005, until this present time and me and them get along….
âMe and the people and dem go so good, this same man here, sometimes he going to work, she donât make no tea give him and she make tea for me. And he would cuss she,â he said.
Durrant explained that the alleged assailants, a common law couple, have had their pigs stolen many times over the years, but he has never been accused, neither is he guilty of stealing pigs, so he cannot understand why he is now suspected of having done such an act.
âI want the public to know I ainât pleased because me and the people does go down real good and I donât like what transpire. To know a lie, would mek you do such a thing to a man you know…They have to compensate me for everything,â Durrant declared.
He is making preparations to get assistance to get some material to rebuild his home, but in the meanwhile, he is staying with stepchildren from a former relationship.
Calvert Charles, 54 and Gailene Farrel, 53, appeared before the Serious Offences Court on November 9, charged with attempting to murder Durrant and with arson.
They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of $30,000. They were ordered to surrender travel documents and stop notices have been placed at all ports. They are to report to the Questelles Police Station every Monday between 6 a.m and 6 p.m. The Preliminary Inquiry into the matter is scheduled for February 6, 2018 at the Serious Offences Court.
Durrant said since the incident, he has received threats from a relative of one of the accused.(CB)
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