A teenage girl in Guyana has been slapped with 19 counts of murder after reportedly admitting to starting a fire which killed 18 of her schoolmates and a 5-year-old boy last week.
The young girl, reportedly 15 years old, faced a magistrate virtually on Monday and was remanded into custody pending further proceedings.
She was not allowed to enter any plea that day.
It is alleged that the teen set the fire that engulfed the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory on May 21 in an act of retaliation after her cell phone was confiscated by one of the school’s administrators.
The teen is scheduled to return to court on July 5th, when her defence attorneys will indicate whether they are ready to commence the preliminary trial.
The teen could face life in prison if found guilty.
In addition to the deaths, the devastating late-night fire injured dozens of students. One of which had to be transported to the United States for specialist treatment.
Many of the students are said to have already been discharged and are recovering.
