Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Man Guilty In Ex-Girlfriend's Burning Death

"I'll break your neck," Sook-Deo said. "That's how I feel because of what he did to my little girl. This is the worst thing to happen to a father. Six days, I drove day and night, everywhere not knowing she was dead. It is the worst thing, everyday crying and missing your daughter."

Teen Doused With Gas, Set On Fire

POSTED: 12:17 am EST February 20, 2008
UPDATED: 12:21 am EST February 20, 2008


ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A jury found a Central Florida man guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the burning death of his ex-girlfriend after she was doused with gasoline and ignited by the man.

Dane Abdool admitted to pouring gasoline on Amelia Sook-Deo, 17, and lighting her on fire but he said her March 2006 death was an accident.

The victim's father, Deolall Sook-Deo, was shaking after hearing the guilty verdict late Tuesday and said he was still angry with Abdool.

"If you could say anything to (Abdool), what would you say to him?" a reporter asked.

"I'll break your neck," Sook-Deo said. "That's how I feel because of what he did to my little girl. This is the worst thing to happen to a father. Six days, I drove day and night, everywhere not knowing she was dead. It is the worst thing, everyday crying and missing your daughter."

"Our job now is saving one kid's life," defense attorney Kelly Simms said late Tuesday. "The other is already lost. We are going to try to save this one and that is going to start tomorrow."

"I would like to see the death penalty, that is what I would like to see," Sook-Deo said.

Prosecutors said that Amelia Sook-Deo sneaked out of her bedroom window to meet Abdool, who claimed that Sook-Deo told him she was pregnant. A medical examiner determined that Sook-Deo was not pregnant.

Prosecutors said Abdool bound Sook-Deo with duct tape, took her to a rural road in Winter Garden, poured gasoline on her and ignited a fire with a cigarette lighter before speeding off.

The penalty phase begins at 9 a.m.Wednesday.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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