Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

The St James man accused of stabbing his brother to death during an altercation in 2013 had his case's preliminary examination deferred to March 3, 2015 in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Khadian Martin from Norwood is charged for the murder of his brother, Dennis. His bail was extended as a number of witnesses for the prosecution were absent.

It is alleged that on November 1, 2013, the brothers had a dispute during which the now-deceased armed himself with a machete, and the accused man armed himself with a knife. During the fight, the court heard that the accused stabbed his brother twice in the chest and the brother was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Clerk of the court Paula-Sue Ferguson told presiding magistrate Ann-Marie Granger that several of the civilian witnesses were not at court.

"The investigating officer indicated to me that there are six witnesses, to include the investigating officer. The witness who identified the body was here but had to leave the other two civilian witnesses, one is ill and the other cannot be found," said Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Martin's attorney, Martyn Thomas, indicated that he had yet to be served with a number of documents to build a defence for his client.

"We still have not been served with any scene-of-crime statements or CDs," said Thomas.

The matter was subsequently set for preliminary examination on March 3.