A 15-year-old schoolgirl, who is currently before the courts on 19 murder charges for the devastating Mahdia School dormitory fire, was, on Thursday, charged for the murder of another victim who died days after the fire.

The teen reappeared via Zoom before Magistrate Sunil Scare at Diamond Magistrate’s Court where the charge was re-read to her after the particulars of the charge were amended with the name of Sherana Daniels to make it 20 victims.

The new charge alleged that during the course of arson committed on May 21, she murdered Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha Dandrade, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniels, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Bibi Jeffrey, Adanye Jerome and Sherana Daniels.

The teen was not required to plead and was further remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre. The matter was adjourned until July 20, for further report and additional statements.

The police had disclosed that the teen was identified as a suspect after investigators were told that she set the fire after her cellular phone was taken away by the ‘dorm mother’ and a teacher.

At the time of the fire, there were 57 female students in the dormitory, a one-flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet with several windows, all grilled, and five doors.

According to the reports reaching this publication, fire/smoke was first spotted in the bathroom area. Unfortunately, it quickly engulfed the entire building, trapping many of the students and a five-year-old boy. Several of the students managed to escape with minor burns and injuries.

Those who were pulled from the burning building were rushed to the Mahdia District Hospital, where five of them were pronounced dead.

After the fire was extinguished, 14 burnt bodies were found. The death toll from the devastating blaze now stands at 19 young girls and a five-year-old boy.

Samples that were sent to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York for DNA analyses, confirmed the identification of the dead children. The cause of death for each of them was given as smoke inhalation and burns.

A total of 29 female students were injured and were promptly assessed and treated. A 13-year-old girl, who was one of the two listed as critically injured, was transported to New York for urgent specialised care.