JAMESTOWN, N.D. - A Jamestown woman pleaded not guilty Monday to the murder of an 18-year-old Somali refugee.
Janelle Cave, 22, is accused of murder and criminal conspiracy in the April 30 death of Abdi Ali Ahmed. Murder and criminal conspiracy are both Class AA felonies.
Cave waived her preliminary hearing Monday inÂtended to determine whether there is reason to believe a crime was committed and reason to believe Cave committed the crime.
Judge James Hovey said Cave has the right to either a trial by jury or a trial by the court. Judge Thomas Merrick has been assigned to the trial. A date has not been set.
Ahmed's body was found in a ditch near Spiritwood the morning of April 30. Officials said Ahmed died of a blunt-force head injury.
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Also charged in the murder is Leron "Ra Ra" Howard, 34, of Jamestown. He pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on July 7.
Both Howard and Cave are in custody at the Stutsman County Corrections Center. Each is held on a $450,000 bond.
A Class AA felony is punishable by a maximum of life imprisonment without parole.
Katie Ryan-Anderson writes for the Jamestown Sun
