Self-described ‘witch’ faces Broward murder trial without a body

The case goes to trial

A murder case in Broward County is going to trial without a recovered body. The person facing the charge has described herself as a “witch,” a detail that has drawn attention to the proceeding.

The trial marks the formal court process in which prosecutors will present evidence supporting the murder charge and the defense will respond. A judge and jury will consider the evidence introduced in court.

No body has been recovered

The case is unusual because there is no body. That means the proceeding will depend on the evidence presented about what prosecutors say happened, rather than on the discovery of a victim’s remains.

The absence of a body does not end the case. The court will decide the matter through the trial process, based on testimony, records and other evidence admitted under the rules of court.

What the trial will establish

The central issue will be whether the evidence presented in court proves the murder charge. The defendant is entitled to respond to the allegations and to have the case decided through the court process.

The description of the defendant as a self-described “witch” is part of the public context surrounding the case. It is not, by itself, proof of the murder charge. The outcome will turn on evidence and arguments presented during the trial.

Court process ahead

The proceedings will include the presentation of the prosecution’s case, the defense response and a decision under the rules governing criminal trials. The court’s resolution will determine how the murder case ends.

Until the trial is completed, the charge remains an allegation. The jury’s decision, or any ruling by the court that affects the case, will be the next major development.