28130: Hermantin(News)Hearing is again delayed in case of skull smuggling (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Fri, Mar. 17, 2006


FEDERAL COURT
Hearing is again delayed in case of skull smuggling

By JERRY BERRIOS
jberrios@MiamiHerald.com

The arraignment for Myrlene Severe, charged with intentionally smuggling a 
human skull into the United States, has been postponed again.

Severe and her attorney, Kenneth Hassett, asked U.S. Magistrate Edwin G. Torres 
to reschedule the hearing to the end of the month.

The hearing was originally scheduled for March 2, but it was postponed until 
Thursday.

Severe, who was in court, did not speak to the media. Her arraignment is now 
scheduled for March 31 in front of U.S. Magistrate Lurana S. Snow.

Severe, a native of Haiti, was arrested and charged with intentionally 
smuggling a human head into the United States and not having the proper 
paperwork, as well as bringing hazardous material onto an airplane.

Each count carries a five-year maximum sentence.

Hassett said he is working with prosecutors to resolve the case. He also wants 
to avoid his client being deported.

''She lives here,'' Hassett said after the hearing in federal court in Fort 
Lauderdale. ``She is a resident.''

Federal agents found the skull in Severe's luggage Feb. 9 after her Lynx 
Airline flight arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from 
Haiti.

The skull, which had black curly hair, was found nestled inside a cotton rice 
bag, tucked among a banana leaf, some dirt, small stones and a rusty iron nail.

Severe told officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection that she got the 
''package'' from a Haitian man and planned to use it to ward off evil spirits 
as part of her Vodou beliefs, according to a federal affidavit.






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