A family of six, including four young children, is homeless tonight after their house was destroyed by a fire, a fire which police say was deliberately set by a 10 year old boy. That boy who is a student at Salvation Army School was today charged with arson along with sisters 20-year-old Chantel and 18 year old Joanne Usher. The trio is charged with destroying the Tibruce Street home which Edna Young shared with her two children as well her sister and her two kids.
The blaze started around mid-day on Saturday, the tenth of September, when no one was at home. An area resident who wished to appear off camera told 7NEWS that shortly before the blaze she saw two females leaving the scene.
Area Resident,
"I saw the two person jump on a bike and rode off and little bit after they rode off the fire blazed and they looked frighthened."
Keith Swift,
When was this?
Area Resident,
"The afternoon."
Keith Swift,
What day?
Area Resident,
"Saturday."
Keith Swift,
Did you ever see them in this neighborhood before?
Area Resident,
"Yes, their father built the house."
Police now say those two females were Chantel and Joanne Usher. The story gets interesting because Edna Young is their former stepmother and the house they are accused of burning down was built by their father who used to date Edna Young. Young who is today literally out of a house and home told 7NEWS
that her house was burnt down after she was accused of having an affair with her former stepdaughter's boyfriend.
Edna Young, Victim of Arson
"It was due to a misunderstanding because the neighbor told her that her boyfriend came to my house. Her boyfriend did come to my house but it was to look for she, not to look for me. The day before that she came to my house and started to trip on me and told me she would burn down my house."
Keith Swift,
How are you managing right now?
Edna Young,
"Well I am begging a little lodging at my sister's house right now but upstairs the people are talking that too many people are staying down here. I am homeless, I don't have a home."
Keith Swift,
It must be frustrating to know you lost your house over something like this?
Edna Young,
"I am not really doing that and it is because of the neighbor who told her my stepdaughter that. She had her boyfriend too, a man other than her boyfriend, so I don't know why she would take it to heart and believe what neighbors told her."
Keith Swift,
What are you going to do now?
Edna Young,
"I don't know what I will do." [Shrugging Shoulder]
All three appeared before Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord where the sisters were released on $6,000 bail each. The ten year old boy was released on $3,000 bail. Edna Young estimates her house was worth $1,500 and she values the contents at another $1,300. Anyone able to help the family can contact them at 607-3734.
