The case against Caroline Travers (52), who stands accused of arson and attempted murder, resumed this week in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.

The charges stem from a house fire that occurred in the early hours of March 12, 2022, at a property on Essenwood Avenue in Birchleigh.

According to Sgt Barbara-Anne Ferreira, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS, Travers allegedly set her house on fire shortly after midnight.

“A complainant alleged she was called to an arson scene and, upon arrival, found the house in flames,” said Ferreira.

“She spoke to a woman at the scene who admitted to setting the house alight and said she hoped her husband burned to death.”

CPF patroller Terrence de Klerk and Reservist Constable Jagger were among the first responders to the scene.

They broke a window to gain access to the burning house and found the husband unconscious on the floor and he was pulled to safety.

Today, July 29, De Klerk testified that on the evening of March 11, while patrolling near Essenwood Avenue, he and his team noticed a commotion and stopped to investigate.

“We saw the house on fire and a woman sitting by the gate, later identified as Caroline Travers,” he told the court.

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“There was also a man who looked like a gardener spraying water on the fire with a hosepipe. He ran into the house, and I called for him to come out, but he didn’t respond.”

De Klerk said he asked Travers how many people were in the house.

“She initially said, ‘I did that.’ When I asked again, she said, ‘I set the house on fire,’ and later confirmed there were two people inside.”

Unable to enter through the front due to intense flames, De Klerk broke a window on the side of the house and went in alone.

“The smoke was overwhelming. After several attempts, Constable Jagger joined me. On our sixth entry, we found the occupant lying unconscious in the hallway. We carried him out through the same window and handed him over to paramedics.”

De Klerk added that while no animals were visible during the rescue, they later learned there were two dogs and a parrot inside the house.

READ: Firefighters contain early morning house fire in Highveld Road

The victim’s brother, David Travers, also took the stand.

He testified that the property still legally belonged to their parents’ estate and had not yet been transferred. He said his brother had lived in the house since 1969 and had been living with Caroline since around 2017.

He said the house, valued at R1.2 million, was destroyed and later sold.

However, the insurance company declined to pay out as the fire was allegedly started by an occupant.

David said he found out about the fire on March 12 via a voice message from Caroline’s stepmother.

“We went to the house and were told my brother had been taken to hospital, but we didn’t know which one. We were eventually given Sgt Ferreira’s contact details, and she confirmed he was admitted to Tembisa Hospital.”

He said they attempted to transfer his brother to another facility, but his medical scheme wouldn’t allow it.

“When I met with Sgt Ferreira, she was surprised my brother had relatives. Caroline had apparently told her he had none.”

David said his brother died on March 16.

READ: Emergency services contain Birch Acres house fire

He confirmed that there were two dogs and a parrot in the house at the time of the fire.

David also said that on the evening of March 11, Caroline sent him a message stating his brother was home and drunk.

He called his brother, but the call went to voicemail.

A friend later confirmed his brother had been out, had a few drinks, but was not heavily intoxicated.

David admitted to ignoring further messages from Caroline, including one where she wrote: “I couldn’t get Jowwie out (the parrot) and that nobody cared.”

The defence argued that the fire started as a controlled fire in a stainless steel container, which was accidentally knocked over by her husband.

Caroline also denied telling police that her husband had no family.

The case was postponed to August 18 for further hearing.