Spanish Town

A case of murder involving a husband who allegedly beheaded his wife, a teacher, will be among the 36 cases to be tried in the St Catherine Circuit Court during the Michaelmas session.

Presiding judge, Justice Donald McIntosh ordered the session open in Spanish Town yesterday.

For this session, there will be a total of 36 cases. Seventeen of these cases, including eight murders, were brought over from the last Circuit Court. These cases were added to the 19 new cases that will be heard in the Circuit Court. In total, 13 murders, 17 sexual offences, and other crimes will be heard.

However, it is the case of Richard Duhaney, who is charged with murder, that stood out. Duhaney is charged with the murder of his wife Velma whose headless body was found on March 19, 2006 in Waugh Hill near Sligoville, St Catherine.

Velma, a teacher, went missing sometime before the date her decapitated body was discovered. Investigations led to the body being found and Duhaney being charged with her murder. However, Duhaney maintained his innocence throughout his many court app-earances. Attorneys-at-law, Peter Champagnie and Valerie Neita Robertson, are representing him. The matter is set for mention on September 22.