ALMOST five years after 18-year-old Ronella Benfield was brutally murdered in a cemetery at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, the coroner’s inquest into her death is scheduled to recommence, on Thursday, at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court.

In Guyana, a sitting magistrate acting as the coroner, empanels a jury and conducts an inquest.

The jury’s role is to examine all of the evidence presented and decide whether any criminal charges can be laid and, if so, against whom.

The inquest proceedings in this case had started before Magistrate Alisha George, but, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the hearing was suspended.

A total of 24 witnesses are expected to testify during the inquest.

The young Qualfon Call Centre receptionist was murdered on December 11, 2017, while on her way home.

Her mutilated body with the face disfigured was found in a Muslim cemetery along the Beterverwagting Access Road, by a passerby who alerted the police.

A post- mortem examination revealed that Benfield died as a result of crushing injuries to the face caused by a blunt object. More than seven persons were detained and grilled by the police. They were all released.

The police reported that the body of Benfield was found at approximately 07:00hrs with her face smashed in. The victim was last seen alive at approximately 18:00hrs on December 9, 2017, by her colleagues.

Detectives believe that the teen knew her attacker (s) and was probably held at gunpoint or knifepoint and forcibly taken into the cemetery where she was beaten.

The body was found with her jeans pulled down almost to her knees and she was still wearing her blouse. Her hands were resting on her stomach.

Her handbag was found, but her cell phone was not inside.