Woman 8-months pregnant remanded to prison over 2016 murder where victim was stabbed 52 times

Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2021. 11:33 am CST.

By BBN Staff: It has been five years since the brutal stabbing death of 17-year-old Mahogany Heights resident Jasmine Petillo, but police feel that a crucial piece of evidence has surfaced allowing them to charge at least one suspect.

Twenty-six-year-old Shereema Neal, appeared unrepresented in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Friday, to answer to a single charge of murder. She informed the court at her arraignment that she is eight months pregnant.

Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford explained to Neal that the matter will be tried at the Supreme Court, as such she would not take a plea. The Senior Magistrate also explained that Neal could not be granted bail at the Magistrate level and remanded her to the Belize Central Prison until February 2022, though she can apply for bail at the Supreme Court level.

Reports are that police have obtained DNA evidence that made it possible for them to levy the charge against Neal. Police say Petillo’s murder was retaliatory violence over the 2015 murder of Desmond Usher aka “Mumuch”. Petillo allegedly made the call that would lure Usher to his death. She was stabbed 52 times, wrapped in a quilt and her body was thrown in a ditch in Mahogany Heights.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtі[email protected]еаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-601-0315.

© 2021, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.