Father pleads not guilty in gruesome 1994 death of daughter

Everton Biddersingh, accused of killing his daughter and stuffing her remains in a suitcase more than 20 years ago, pleaded not guilty in a Toronto court on Wednesday.

The remains of 17-year-old Melonie Biddersingh were found inside a suitcase that had been left burning in a Vaughan industrial area on Sept. 1, 1994.

Police still don’t know when Melonie died. They estimate it was anytime between June of 1992 and when her body was found.

Biddersingh, 60, and his wife Elaine – the girl’s stepmother – have both been charged with first-degree murder. They are being tried separately and Elaine’s trial will begin in April. She will also be a witness in Everton’s trail.

According to the Crown, Elaine is expected to describe the “horrific” abuse Melonie endured in her short life.

Melonie had 21 fractures and weighed only 50 pounds when she died, the Crown said.

Melonie was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her mother sent her, her brother Dwayne and half-brother Cleon to Toronto in 1990 for a chance at a better life. Melonie was 13 when she moved, with only a suitcase and dreams of becoming a nurse.

The three children lived in a Parkdale apartment Everton, Elaine, and Elaine’s three other children.

Melonie was treated “like a slave,” the court heard. She never went to school, she slept on the floor, she was called the devil, she cleaned, and looked after the baby. She was kicked and punched, chained to furniture, deprived of food, and kept in a closet.

“… She was drowned or nearly drowned, inhaling water shortly before her death. She was stuffed into a suitcase and driven to an isolated area where she was set on fire,” Crown prosecutor Anna Tenhouse said in her opening statement.

She was beaten, starved, drowned, and, eventually, killed. After her death, the Crown argued, Everton told everyone who asked that Melonie had moved to New York City.

The girl was also called “the devil” and told she brought evil to the family, Tenhouse said.

“Melonie became thinner and weaker as a result of the abuse and food deprivation,” Tenhouse said, adding that the teen, who was not given medical attention, told her older brother Cleon she wished she was dead.

“Three years after she had come to Canada, Melonie was killed,” said Tenhouse.

Court heard that when Melonie first came to Canada at the age of 13 with two brothers, her father and stepmother promised her a life “full of hope.”

“Melonie was pretty and a happy girl. However that did not last long. After living in the Biddersingh home, Melonie’s appearance changed,” Tenhouse said. “Everton’s attitude towards Melonie changed.”

Her own mother didn’t know her daughter was dead until 2012, when a tip led police to identify the remains.

The telephone tip led to a visit to the girl’s biological mother in Kingston, where cold-case investigators, working with the RCMP and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, obtained the DNA sample used to identify the human remains as those of the girl.

“It just goes to show the power of a phone call,” Det. Sgt. Steve Ryan said at the time.

Melonie’s mother “was of the belief that her daughter was a young adult, a productive member of our society.”

She had been trying to reach her daughter for years, Ryan said.

The court heard Wednesday the tip came from Elaine’s pastor. Elaine had confessed to him and he immediately contacted police.

Evertone and Elaine Biddersingh were arrested on March 5, 2012.

Everton Biddersingh is also charged with indignity to a dead body.