Foul play ruled out in fire that killed MP, children

Senior Reporter

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Three days after D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Lisa Morris-Julian and two of her children perished in a fire which gutted their home at Farfan Street, Arima, foul play has been ruled out.

A senior fire official confirmed that the investigation into the tragic incident was concluded yesterday but explained that it would take a few days for the written report to be compiled. That report is expected to be handed over to acting chief fire officer Andy Hutchinson by late next week.

Unwilling to divulge the findings of the investigation, the senior official would only confirm, “I can say no foul play was identified at this time.”

Morris-Julian, 48, her son Jesiah, six, and daughter Xianne, 25, died as result of smoke inhalation, an autopsy confirmed. Their bodies were found in the gutted house, with Morris-Julian reportedly cradling Jesiah to her.

The incident left an outraged public demanding answers regarding the fire, including why officers from the Arima Fire Station were tardy in responding although it is less than a block away from the house. The TTFS has said firefighters were responding to another fire at Manuel Congo.

The T&T Fire Service (TTFS) and Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales is also in a war of words over whether there was a water problem.

Meanwhile, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said yesterday that Government will announce the details of a committee being set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths when it is finalised.