August 1, 2026
Pump attendant who doused woman with gas then set her ablaze charged with murder
Written byPatrice Walters
The pump attendant who sprayed a woman with gasoline and set her on fire during a dispute in Westmoreland has been charged with murder.
She is 30 year old Collate Swaby of Old Road in Whithorn.
Swaby had previously been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
The murder charge follows the death of 42 year old businesswoman Dacia Forrester of Ancho district in Whithorn.
Forrester had sustained burns during the incident at a petrol station in February.
Reports are that Forrester went to the service station where Swaby was employed and an argument developed between them.
It is alleged that the dispute escalated during which Swaby doused Forrester with a flammable substance and set her on fire.
Bystanders extinguished the flames and transported Forrester to the hospital for treatment.
A video of the incident went virial on social media.
On Friday, March 6, Forrester succumbed to her injuries.
Following the post mortem and a review of witness statements, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled on Thursday, July 30, that the charge against Swaby be upgraded to murder.
