The alleged killer of a Bermudian woman's 23-year-old daughter will stand trial in Denver on March 31.

Sixteen-year-old Jennifer Tombs is charged with the first degree murder of Latanya Lavallais.

Ms Lavallais was allegedly gunned down while looking after Tombs when the teenager's mother was out of town.

At Denver District Court on Thursday, Judge Warren Martin agreed to allow Police to draw some of Tombs' blood.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Henry Cooper told The Royal Gazette yesterday Police wanted to compare it with other blood evidence.

He said defence attorneys Kurt Metzger and Jeff Timlin did not object to his request.

Mr. Cooper said the Judge also delayed the original March 10 trial date.

Deputy District Attorney Jason Dotson filed the charges against Tombs last October through Denver District Court.

Tombs, although technically a minor, is to be tried as an adult and is presently being held in the Denver City Jail.

Mr. Cooper told The Royal Gazette Tombs had denied the charge, but faced life imprisonment if found guilty.

"She remains in custody. She is not eligible for bail.'' Ms Lavallais, the daughter of Valeria Vermont, nee Cox, died instantly after being shot five times at the Tombs' home in the Montbello area of the city on September 27 last year.

She had gone to the house to babysit the girl who was electronically tagged and under house arrest in connection with other charges.

Her body was found at the Tombs' house the next morning after her step-father Errol Vermont, a preacher, became worried when she had not returned home.

Ms Lavallais' grandfather, Maurice Williams, who lives in North Shore Road, Pembroke, told The Royal Gazette after the shooting that his grand-daughter had visited Bermuda last year and stayed for several months.

He said Ms Lavallais had been granted Bermudian status and worked for Hamilton jewellers Crisson's for around three months and had taken an apartment in the Happy Valley Road area.

Ms Lavaillais was only weeks away from starting a new life in Bermuda when the tragedy occurred.

BERMUDIAN BDA