Stepfather stabbing…Schoolgirl charged with murder

Two days after she allegedly stabbed her stepfather to death during a row at their Plaisance home, a 17-year-old schoolgirl appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with murder.

Abiki Ferguson of Lot 78 Victoria Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara was not required to plead to the capital offence when it was read to her by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus. She was subsequently remanded to prison.
It is alleged that she murdered Glendon Scipio, 54, on Wednesday night.

During the brief court hearing, Ferguson was represented by attorney-at-law Gregory Gaskin while Assistant Superintendent of Police Edmond Cooper appeared on behalf of the state.

The matter continues at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on May 7.
Reports were that Ferguson was at a neighbour’s house helping a child with homework then left to go home in order to prepare to go to church.

The deceased, who was at home alone, reportedly prevented the girl from entering the house.
A heated argument ensued in the yard, during which Scipio allegedly dealt his stepdaughter several punches to her face. The young woman is alleged to have picked up a piece of wood and hit the man in retaliation.

The man, neighbours said, then hit the girl again, after which she ran upstairs and returned with a knife.  The argument continued, during which the young woman stabbed Scipio in his chest.  According to residents, someone tried to intervene but this proved futile.
Neighbours said Scipio and his stepdaughter were regularly involved in heated arguments

A post-mortem examination performed at the Georgetown Hospital mortuary by Dr Nehaul Singh yesterday revealed that the man died from a stab wound to the heart.