Almost two weeks after 16-year-old Jernice Francis was stabbed to death in an apparent case of mistaken identity, the 18-year-old woman accused of committing the crime is expected to appear in court this morning.
Police sources said detectives from the Region One Homicide Bureau were at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) up to late yesterday as they sought advice on possible charges for the suspect.
The teen was expected to be charged late yesterday in time to be taken to the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court this morning.
Francis was attacked while walking along Bowen Trace, Snake Valley, Laventille, on August 12.
According to police reports, Francis and her friend were walking along the road when the attacker walked up behind them and said something to them.
They reportedly responded and continued walking. The attacker rushed Francis and stabbed her in the neck.
Francis began screaming as her friend rushed to her assistance, telling her attacker she had attacked the wrong person.
Francis was later taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment. The suspect, from Beetham Gardens, fled the scene and evaded police capture for almost a week.
Last Wednesday she surrendered to the host of the popular Beyond the Tape television show, Insp Roger Alexander, in Port-of-Spain.
The suspect allegedly told Alexander that Francis’ friend was her intended victim and the attack was the result of a dispute between the two over a man.