A magistrate is expected to decide today whether the case against a woman charged with the murder of nine-year-old Chantel Crump will proceed to trial, according to Antigua News Room.
Angela Mejia has been held on remand at His Majesty's Prison for nearly a year since her arrest. The matter returned to the St John's Magistrates Court on Tuesday following a series of delays that has frustrated the defence.
At the previous hearing, defence attorney Wendel Alexander urged the court to either advance the case or dismiss it outright, arguing that his client should not remain in custody while prosecutors continued their preparations. The case has been adjourned five times, prompting the defence to file for dismissal on the grounds of lack of prosecution. A second bail application was also denied.
Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel granted a final adjournment last month, noting that the case file remained under review by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
During today's hearing, the court is expected to conduct a committal proceeding to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to send the matter to the High Court. If prosecutors fail to meet that threshold, the case could be dismissed and Mejia released from custody.
Chantel Crump's body was discovered in the Weatherills area on 15 March 2025. Police stated that she had been taken by a woman in a vehicle several days before her body was found.
The case has drawn significant public attention across Antigua and Barbuda. Today's ruling is likely to determine whether the matter proceeds to a full trial or comes to an end at the committal stage.
