The sister of the Westmoreland woman who died after being set ablaze has been formally charged with unlawful wounding. Anisha Forrester is identified as the third party in the gas station confrontation involving her sister, Dacia Forrester, and pump attendant Collate Swaby.
Authorities report that she withdrew a knife from her waist and stabbed the pump attendant, who doused Dacia and set her on fire. Police say that the weapon was recovered at the scene. At her first court appearance on Tuesday, Forrester was granted station bail of $100,000, which was initially set at $80,000. Senior Parish Court Judge Kadine Barnett Plunkett increased it while citing the seriousness of the allegations.
The judge further ordered that her travel documents be surrendered and that she report to the nearest police station twice weekly as part of her bail conditions. During the proceedings, the court heard that the stabbing occurred amid a heated exchange that led to Dacia’s death. Swaby sustained injuries to her eye and her face.
However, Forrester’s lawyer, Dion Miller Barrett, denied that her client caused the alleged injuries. He highlighted Swaby’s medical report, arguing that the wounds on the pump attendant’s face are not consistent with knife wounds. Barrett also suggested that Forrester’s case could be conjoined with the ongoing investigation into her sister’s death, as she may serve as a witness in the broader matter involving Swaybe.
Forrester is expected to return to court for further review on April 16. Previous reports gave conflicting information, initially indicating that Forrester was charged and then stating that she was released without charge after police reviewed surveillance footage at the gas station.
Dacia’s family has fallen silent in the media as they mourn her after weeks of pleading for help from the public while she was hospitalised with severe burns. Meanwhile, family members of Swaby have remained largely silent, though the case has drawn nationwide attention, and many have voiced solidarity with her online, citing self-defence.