Mother of murdered 3-y-o denied bail - Accused killer charged

The mother and stepfather of the three-year-old girl whose body was found with chop wounds in Orange Hill, St Ann last week, were denied bail when they appeared in the St Ann Parish Court yesterday.

Twenty-four-year-old Mahalia Poyser and her common-law husband, Roy Dawes, 30, are due in court again on July 29.

The two were charged with negligence after they allegedly left Poyser's three-year-old children, Nevalesia Campbell and her twin brother, alone at home last Saturday night.

Nevalesia's body was found the following day with chop wounds in the community.

Poyser had filed a missing-person report to the Brown's Town police, claiming that she went to bed with her children and woke up to find her daughter missing.

However, the police later arrested and charged her and Dawes, saying their investigations revealed the children were left alone at home.

In court yesterday, attorney for the accused Peter McHugh applied for bail but this was denied by parish judge Andrea Thomas.

"The Crown did not oppose bail because it is a bailable offence," McHugh told The Gleaner.

"However, the judge thought that in light of threats out there from persons who intend to harm them, that for their own safety they should remain in custody."

Meanwhile, the St Ann police have charged 19-year-old Alexus Newland, otherwise called Dal-Dal, with Nevalesia's murder.

Newland was charged Wednesday afternoon following a question-and-answer session.

Police investigations have so far discovered a weapon the lawmen believe is the murder weapon, along with bloodstained clothes, allegedly belonging to the accused.

Newland is expected in court at a later date.