Local News

Thirty eight year old Lavern Longsworth was found guilty of murder today. 

Longsworth, a mother of three was charged with the murder of her common-law husband 33-year- old David White.

The jury of 7 women and 5 men deliberated for about three hours before it arrived at its verdict which was unanimous.

White was set on fire by Longsworth on July 15, 2010. He succumbed to his injuries on August 2, 2010. Crown Counsel Sheniza Smith called 17 witnesses. 

According to the evidence, White and Longsworth were at their home on Castle Street when White asked Longsworth for $10.00 to buy drugs. Longsworth gave him the money and when he returned with the drugs and was fixing it with his back turned away from Longsworth, she stoned him in his back twice before she threw gasoline on him and set him on fire.

Longsworth then threw water on him and douzed the flames. Longsworth gave a statement from the dock in which she said that she acted in self defence. She claimed that White had a knife and he made a motion as if he was pulling the knife from the waist of his pants and that was why she set him on fire. She said that White used to beat her.

Electronic evidence was used at the trial which included interviews Longsworth gave to several reporters. In those interviews Lonsgsworth admitted that she set White on fire and that he had a knife. While he was at KHMH White gave a statement to the police about the incident.

Longsworth was represented by attorney Kevin Arthurs. Lavern Longsworth is the third woman to have been convicted of murder in the last 15 months, all for killing their common law spouses.