A 32-year-old man appeared in Magistrates’ Court amid tight security this afternoon to be charged with the premeditated murder of 14-year-old Rhiana Moore.

Ze Menefeskiduse Selassie, of Battery Road, St. George’s parish, is alleged to have killed the teenager on or about Friday May 30.

Rhiana’s body was found in the mangroves at Blue Hole Hill Park nature reserve by passers-by on Saturday morning.

The murder charge is “indictable only” – meaning it must be be heard by the Supreme Court. Selassie was therefore not required to enter a plea during his three-minute appearance before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Dressed in a tee shirt, jeans and sneakers, he stood with his arms folded across his chest and remained impassive as Mr. Warner read out the charge alleging: “On or about May 30 2008 you, with premeditation, did murder Rhiana Ashley Marie Moore.”

Selassie’s lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, made no application for bail, and he was remanded into custody until an administrative hearing at Magistrates’ Court on June 19.

Dozens of Police officers lined the street outside the courtroom, as did a crowd of members of the public. At least 20 more Police officers lined the courtroom for the brief hearing which was also attended by Rhiana’s father, Rohan Moore.

Selassie was escorted into and out of the court building through a basement at the rear. He travelled accompanied by plain-clothed detectives in an unmarked Police car with tinted windows, escorted by Police motorcycle outriders.

For more on this story, see tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette.