THE Court of Appeal will, on October 1, commence its hearing of the case involving Bibi Shareema Gopaul, and her ex-lover, Jarvis ‘Barry’ Small.
They are currently serving a combined total of 202 years for the gruesome murder of 16-year-old Neesa Gopaul. They were found guilty of teen’s murder at the Georgetown High Court in March, 2015 and were sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh to 106 years and 96 years respectively.
The sentencing of Bibi was detailed as: 60 years for the capital offence; 10 years for premeditation; 10 years because it was a child; 10 years for brutality; another 10 years because it is her daughter and she did not protect her; and six years for domestic violence.

The sentencing of Small, on the other hand, was detailed as: 60 years for the offence of murder, with 10 years added for premeditation; another 10 years for brutality; an additional 10 years because the victim was a child; and finally another six years for domestic violence.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, the duo appealed the conviction and sentence, arguing that the trial was unfair and that the judge erred in law.
On October 2, 2010, the remains of Neesa Gopaul were discovered at a location along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway tucked inside a suitcase that was partially submerged in a creek. A rope had been wrapped around the suitcase, and dumbbells were attached at one end, apparently in an effort to keep the body under water.

Besides the body, a passport bearing the name Neesa Lalita Gopaul was found. The teenager was reported missing just days before the gruesome discovery was made.
Subsequent to the discovery of the body, Bibi and Small, were arrested and charged with murder.