Wednesday’s fire guts law offices of Daniels, Phillips & Associates, causing Gomes’ murder trial to be adjourned

The law office of Daniels, Phillips and Associates was set alight early Wednesday morning, February 8 – an incident that reportedly has forced the adjournment of a murder trial in which attorney Lawrence Daniels is involved.

Reports are that four tenders from three stations – St. John’s, Coolidge and All Saints – were dispatched to the scene of the fire on All Saints Road shortly before 4 a.m.

Further reports say the firemen fought hard to extinguish the blaze, which gutted mainly the inside of the concrete structure, with portions of the roof also being damaged.   The building was insured, officials confirm.

The offices were equipped with electricity service, and workers from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) were called to the scene to suppress power in the area as the fire raged.

Officers from the F.E.R.U processed the scene, and inquiries into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.

Attorney Daniels has been involved in the murder trial of Mikhail Gomes of Pigotts who is accused of killing Vincia James.

Gomes, James’ ex-boyfriend, has pleaded not guilty to the capital offence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

James went missing on April 7, 2017, after leaving work at the Dixie Betting Company at about 1:10 p.m.

The trial has been going on for time, with sources saying there are over 90 witnesses down to testify in the matter.

However, the fire on Wednesday morning has delayed the continuation of the trial since Daniels is Gomes’ attorney, and his clients’ legal records and documents reportedly went up in flames.