Richard Renalis was denied bail after being charged with the murder of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne.
Renalis, 26 of Palo Seco appeared virtually before Master Kateisha Ambrose-Persadsingh who read the charge laid by corporal Byer-Baptiste of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations.
The matter was prosecuted by legal officer, constable Kevin Felix while Renalis was represented by attorney Cavell Sylvester.
MURDERED: Twelve-year-old Mercedez Layne.
Persadsingh read the scheduling order for the prosecution to submit the file to the DPP. September 8 was noted for the assignment of a State attorney. Renalis was remanded into custody with the sufficiency hearing listed for February 4.
Renalis faced the court after instructions to charge were given on Wednesday by Director of Public Prosecutions special advisor Joan Honore-Paul.
It was on Sunday that Layne’s body was found in a bushy area along Carapal Road in Erin. Around 11 a.m. the previous day, the standard four pupil was placed in a PH car to be taken to her home in Los Iros Road. She however never arrived and this prompted searches by relatives, friends, villagers, police officers and the Hunters Search and Rescue Team, led by Vallence Rambharat.
An autopsy found that Layne died from blunt force trauma.
