Shereema Neal found not guilty of murder in High Court

Published by BBNTEAM at November 2, 2024

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Posted: Saturday, November 2, 2024. 8:35 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: A mother of four accused of committing a brutal and gruesome murder of a teenager in June of 2016 has been found not guilty in the High Court.

On June 29, 2016, 17-year-old Jasmine Petillo’s lifeless body was found in the western area of Mahogany Heights Village. She had been stabbed multiple times to various parts of her body. Five years later, Shereema Neal, pregnant at the time, was arrested and charged.

High Court Justice Candace Nanton found that the evidence before the court was not enough to safely convict.

The Crown’s main evidence was a partial DNA match for blood found at Neal’s home that was linked to Petillo. There were no direct eyewitnesses and only circumstantial evidence presented and the leading investigating officer was at odds with other witnesses on how much blood was found at Neal’s home, which has since burned down.

The DNA expert who tested the blood swabs admitted during cross examination testimony that it was possible a male could have committed the murder.

According to defense attorney Lynden Jones, a set number of elements were tested but not all the elements matched up, and that if as little as one element is off, it could be deem a partial match.

There was also a discrepancy as to where Neal lived exactly and therefore where the blood was actually found as Neal occupied a particular residence while another nearby was referred to in testimony.

Neal remained silent in her defense and called no witnesses.

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