28266: Craig (news) Haitian Woman Plead Guilty in Skull Case (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From:  Dan Craig


April 13, 2006


 Haitian Woman Plead Guilty in Skull Case

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:17 a.m. ET

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- A Haitian woman who was found with a human skull 
in her luggage pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally storing human remains.

Myrlene Severe, 30, a permanent U.S. resident, had originally been charged with 
smuggling a human head into the United States without proper documentation, 
failure to declare the head and transporting hazardous material in air 
commerce.

Severe could have faced up to 15 years in jail. Under a plea deal, she now 
faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

''She is glad that part of it is over,'' her attorney, Kenneth Hassett, told 
The Miami Herald. ''She is anxiously awaiting the sentencing for closure. We 
are cautiously optimistic as to the result.''

Hassett has said a misdemeanor conviction would less likely lead to 
deportation.

The remains were found when Severe arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood 
International Airport in February from Haiti. She told authorities she intended 
to use it as part of her Voodoo beliefs.

Severe's sentencing is scheduled for July 28.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-BRF-Skull-in-Luggage.html