Stepmother sentenced to life in prison for murder of Jamaican teen in Canada

(Jamaica Gleaner) A killer stepmother screamed obscenities Monday during a hearing where a judge sentenced her to life in prison with no parole for 16 years for the shocking murder of 17-year-old Jamaican teen Melonie Biddersingh.

A report on the Toronto Sun website says Elaine Biddersingh shouted at Justice Ian MacDonnell, telling him she did not murder anyone.

The judge reportedly warned Biddersingh he wouldn’t tolerate another outburst before imprisoning her for her role in the September 1994 killing of her stepdaughter. The stepdaughter’s emaciated, battered body was found in a burning suitcase in an industrial parking lot north of Toronto.

In a loud tirade, Biddersingh called Crown attorneys Anna Tenhouse and Mary Humphrey derogatory names before accusing four shocked jurors of corruption.

Earlier this year, Biddersingh’s husband, Everton Biddersingh, was convicted of first-degree murder.

He can’t apply for parole from his life prison sentence until 2037. Although discovered in 1994, Melonie’s body went unidentified until 2011.

The authorities say the cause of the teen’s death was either drowning, starvation, abuse, or a combination of the three.