(Trinidad Guardian) Almost two weeks after Valencia schoolgirl Amanda Pamponette was chopped to death by a group of men near her home, three men, among them a neighbour, appeared in court yesterday charged with her murder.
Nderi Anthony John-Williams, 31, of Phase One, La Horquetta, Arima, Jason Cooper, 29, of Peter Avenue, Valencia and Darren “Max” Neutrice, 28, of St Pablo Trace, Valencia, were not called upon to plead when they appeared before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Sangre Grande First Court. The trio was also jointly charged with the attempted murder of Pamponette’s 23-year-old boyfriend, Joel John, of Benny Trace, Valencia, who also sustained multiple chop wounds in the attack.

Nderi Anthony John Williams, 31, from left, Jason Cooper, 28 and Darren Neutrice, 29, are taken by police to the Sangre Grande Magistrates court, yesterday, charged with the murder of Valencia teenager. (Trinidad Guardian photo)

Pamponette, 17, a form four student of the Valencia High School died on February 3 of her wounds. She died while receiving treatment at the Sangre Grande District Hospital, while John was treated and discharged late last week. The couple was alleged to have been attacked shortly after midnight on February 2. The trio were arrested by officers of the Eastern Division Task Force led by Cpl Junior Bernard, within hours of the incident while allegedly trying to flee the Valencia district. They were later charged with the offences by Bernard after he received instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, on Friday evening. During their brief court appearance the trio stood silently and their matter was adjourned by Espinet to March 12.