After saying sorry…
ASHANTI Goodridge, 39, of Lot 137, the woman who started the blaze that destroyed two houses and scorched others in Waterloo Street, Georgetown, leaving 12 people homeless, was jailed yesterday.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson sentenced the arsonist to five years imprisonment for setting fire to the dwelling house in which popular comedian Henry Rodney lived.

The convict pleaded guilty to the offence, particulars of which said, on January 12, she maliciously set the house ablaze with Rodney inside.

Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said Goodridge’s sister, who resides abroad, owns the property and the prisoner is a known alcoholic.

The Prosecutor explained that the virtual complainant was renting the upper flat of the building and Goodridge was always abusive to him and other neighbours.

Telford said Goodridge was under the influence of alcohol the day of the conflagration when she purchased gasolene with which she doused the building and lit it afire.

Goodridge denied being an alcoholic but said she torched the place while sober because Rodney and his family would always disturb her.

She said they usually run and stamp over where she lived downstairs and no one would listen to her complaints.

“I was a good person but I was bitten by the dogs,” she declared, adding that she was very sorry for the neighbours who suffered as a result of the arson but is satisfied that the house is no more.

“I didn’t really go to do it but, then, they started to walk over my head again and I went into the back room and threw the gasolene on two mattresses and set it afire. I am so sorry that I rented him my house because I couldn’t do anything in there,” Goodridge lamented.

Before the magistrate pronounced sentence, the Prosecutor noted that Goodridge stood before the Court without remorse and requested the maximum sentence for the crime.

“I said I’m sorry but it leaves up to you guys to do whatever you want. All I wanted was for someone to listen to me but no one did,” said Goodridge.