'Suitcase' murder trial hears from wife of accused, who is also charged in case

The trial of a man accused of killing his teenage daughter two decades ago is hearing from his wife, who is also charged with murder.

Elaine Biddersingh is telling a Toronto jury that her husband, Everton Biddersingh, frequently beat her and called her names in the early years of their marriage. 

She also says her husband didn't want her to have any friends and didn't allow her to get a driving license.

Everton Biddersingh has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his 17-year-old daughter Melonie, whose frail, charred body was found in a burning suitcase north of Toronto 21 years ago.

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The case has only just come to trial because police were unable to identify Melonie's body until a tip eventually led to the arrest of Biddersingh and his wife in March 2012.

Elaine Biddersingh's separate first-degree murder trial is to begin next April.

Everton Biddersingh's trial has heard that Melonie and two brothers came from Jamaica, where they were born, to Canada in 1991 to live with their father and stepmother. 

Jurors have heard that the children were not sent to school and were allegedly mistreated. Melonie's younger brother, Dwayne, died accidentally in June 1992. 

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• Everton Biddersingh's murder trial hears of slain daughter's suffering

Her older brother, Cleon, has testified that he and his sister were frequently beaten, had their food withheld and were "treated like slaves." 

The jury has heard that Melonie died on Sept. 1, 1994. Cleon has said Biddersingh told him Melonie had run away.