Trial Starts For Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Over Pregnancy

The murder trial for a man charged with setting his 17-year-old girlfriend on fire got underway Monday. Prosecutors in the case said that if Dane Abdool is found guilty they will seek the death penalty.

Winter Garden police have said since the beginning that Dane Abdool admitted to killing his girlfriend, because she told him that she was pregnant with his child. Prosecutors are not expecting a lengthy trial for Abdool.

Police said he murdered Amelia Sookdeo in February 2006 by using duct tape to tie her up and gasoline to burn her to death.

"She was probably with him voluntarily due to their prior relationship and the fact that she went out her bedroom window," said Chief George Brennan of the Winter Garden Police Department.

Investigators said Abdool admitted to stopping at a 7-Eleven to buy the tools of murder before driving Sookdeo to CR-545 in Winter Garden to kill her. She was already dead by the time her mother noticed she had sneaked out to meet Abdool.

Her family has been grieving ever since.

"My little Amelia, my baby niece, my baby girl, she is gone and there is nobody that can bring her back," said Sally Sookdeo, the victim's aunt.

An autopsy later revealed that Sookdeo was not pregnant.

Previous Stories: October 30, 2007: Man Who Allegedly Set Girlfriend On Fire Could Get Death Penalty