SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Residents of Negril were sent scampering on Thursday after a man was set ablaze by a woman who is believed to be mentally ill.
Identified only by his alias Duppy, the man’s clothes were completely burnt from his body. He suffered burns to his lower back.
Eyewitnesses said the woman poured gasoline on the man and used a lighter to set him ablaze.
The incident, which took place at Taits Plaza, left pedestrians fearful the fire would spread to motorcycles parked nearby, which could have resulted in an explosion.
The fire department was alerted, however, and danger was averted.
An ambulance transported the injured man to hospital.
The woman’s actions were roundly condemned.
“She wicked, she is a wicked woman. Mi have bredda and sista. Mi feel it, man,” one man said angrily.
An employee of Royale Delytes Cafè, located on the plaza where the incident occurred, who gave her name as Kameika, told the Jamaica Observer the woman had earlier tried to attack her and others.
“God know mi frighten. She grab [at] mi and nuh ketch mi, so she set the [poker] box pan fire,” she said.
