NY man sentenced for murdering 14-y-o who refused abortion

New York — A New York man was on Wednesday sentenced to 29 years in prison for murdering a Jamaican teenager who refused to abort his baby.

Christian Ferdinand, 22, said to be Jamaican born, was found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Shaniesha Forbes, setting her body on fire and throwing her remains in the sea.

Ferdinand, who was convicted of the January 2013 slaying late last year, maintained his innocence. But police produced a confession during the trial.

On Wednesday, the court was told that Forbes met Ferdinand on Facebook.

The police report that via text message she told him about her pregnancy and stated that she would not have an abortion due to her mother’s religious beliefs.

However Ferdinand pressured her to abort the baby, and when she refused he smothered her with a leather pillow, set her body on fire, and left her charred remains in a suitcase at his cousin’s place.