MANCHESTER, Jamaica — The Manchester police say that a man has been charged in connection with the murder earlier this month of 56-year-old Carmita Dinnal, a janitor who was employed by the Manchester Parish Council.

The accused has been identified as Kemar Smith, 24, who lived at the same house where Dinnal resided off Grove Road in Mandeville.

He was remanded until February 3 when he made his first appearance in the Mandeville Residents’ Magistrate Court.

According to the police, Dinnal, better known as ‘Gal Gal’, had a number of puppies at the house and accused Smith of selling them.

It is believed that Smith attacked and chopped her in her sleep and then buried her body in a shallow grave beside the four-bedroom house, where at least two other people resided.

Police say that they became aware of the crime when another man who also lives at the house, reported the incident at the Mandeville Police Station, claiming he was forced to assist with burying Dinnal.

The alleged accomplice was initially taken into police custody, but has since been released. He was not charged in the matter.

Alicia Sutherland