KENFORD Downer called “Tallman”, was, on Wednesday, remanded to prison for the murders of his wife and two young children who died in a fire he had allegedly set.
Downer, 36, appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court on three counts of the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until January 27.

Particulars of the offence alleged that on December 12 at Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Downer killed 48-year-old Caroline Kennedy and their two daughters, 5-year-old Mariana Downer and 3-year-old Gabriella Kennedy. According to a statement from the police, at approximately 21:30 hours on the day in question, an unknown person telephoned the Bartica Police Station and reported a fire at the house.

The water tender was unable to reach the location and as such, a bucket brigade was formed. When the fire was extinguished, what appeared to be the charred remains of three humans were found in the south-eastern corner of where the house once stood, police said. The bodies of the victims were subsequently removed from the scene and taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary, where a post mortem examination was conducted on the remains confirming that they were burnt to death. According to reports, Downer allegedly admitted to the police that he doused the structure with gasoline and set it afire before running into the bushes. This was done after he had arrived at home and overheard the woman speaking on the phone with one “Fatman”, whom he suspected her of having an affair with.