By FRANCIS JOSEPH
PH taxi driver, Richard Renalis, who was charged with the murder of schoolgirl, Mercedes Layne, was denied bail when he appeared in court on Thursday.
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.
Police Legal Officer, PC Kevin Felix, appeared for the prosecution, while Renalis was represented by attorney Cavell Sylvester.
Master Persadsingh directed that the prosecution submit the file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and that a State attorney should be appointed by September 8. Renalis was remanded into custody with the sufficiency hearing listed for February 4, 2027.
Renalis faced the court after instructions to charge were given on Wednesday by Director of Public Prosecutions Special Advisor, Joan Honore-Paul.
On Saturday, Mercedes was put into a PH car by her grandfather to go to her home which was literally four minutes away. But she never reached home. A report was later made to the Erin Police Station.
Searches began on Saturday afternoon involving the TTPS, the Defence Force, and members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team.
It was not until 6.30 am on Sunday that Mercedes’ body was found near an oil well along Carapal Road, Erin. Later that day, police found and seized the PH car. Hours later, police detained the owner of the car for questioning.
Mercedes’ body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park. An autopsy performed on Monday revealed that Layne died from blunt force trauma. She had several wounds to the head.
