Teens beat, rob granny, 81, before torching home

Aug 14, 2014 News 0

– Both nabbed; one under parents’ bed

By Rabindra Rooplall

An octogenarian was beaten, robbed and had her home set alight after two teenagers invaded her Lot, 6, Nimrod Street, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara property.

The injured Dorrel Canterbury at the GPHC

Eighty one year-old, Dorrel Canterbury was admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in a serious but stable condition. Her concrete and wooden house was totally destroyed.
Reports are that the fire erupted at around 22:55hrs on Tuesday and a policeman in the area saw the flames and whilst responding, noticed a young man dashing down the stairs of the burning building.
The policeman apprehended the teenager who eventually led ranks to his accomplice who was hiding under a bed at his parents Ann’s Grove home.
They were both taken into police custody.
One of them reportedly confessed to committing the crimes.
This newspaper understands that the teenager described to police how he kept Ms Canterbury hostage for hours beating her, and had even planned on killing her.
He said his accomplice rejected the fatal plan and so they agreed on breaking her arm instead.
The youth told the police that they set the elderly woman’s house alight after stashing a bag filled with some of the valuables from the house, including electronic items in her yard.
The duo reportedly led police to the location of the booty yesterday.
Surrounded by relatives at the GPHC yesterday, Dorrel Canterbury was loud in praise to God for saving her life.
In obvious pain, the frail-looking senior citizen’s face was swollen to the extent that she could not open her eyes.
In recollecting her ordeal, she explained that she was at the stove about to make some tea when she heard a voice on her stairway.
“I hear a talking outside, and I does normally put a cloth over the window, but the cloth was not there yet, when I looked out and see someone outside, they quickly fly through the window, and they come to me and grab me.” Ms Canterbury lamented from her hospital bed “I didn’t loose, it was me and them tumbling in the house, and I was calling out for Margaret (her neighbour), and it was me and them tumbling, me nah loose, one of them had on a white and black jersey, I couldn’t see their faces properly, they take advantage of me.”

The gutted building that was once home to the octogenarian.

According to a close friend and neighbour, Margaret Persaud, Miss Canterbury has been living alone for awhile and is a very private person who always keeps her gate locked.
“She managed to run out the house and into my yard, and I saw she had blood all over her clothes. All she said to me is that someone went into her home and ransacked the place and beat her and drag her all over the house.” Persaud explained.
Adding that Ms Canterbury was an able bodied individual, Persaud said she was well respected within the entire community and it is illogical why someone would want to rob and hurt the senior citizen.
“I am her close friend and caretaker and I know her as a very private person, people had to break the padlock to get into her premises to assist with the fire.”
Persaud noted that Ms Canterbury was never married and had no children, but she was like a mother to the entire community.
She said that the elderly woman’s relatives would randomly visit her, but she attended church often.
Neighbours and residents in the area were left in shock at the incident.