Lokeisha’s murder case adjourned

The start of the Lokeisha Nanton Murder trial has been delayed.
The case had been listed for the June sitting of the criminal assizes, but, during the arraignment session at Tuesday’s start of the assizes, the prosecution requested that the case be adjourned to the October assizes to facilitate the appearance of a star prosecution witness who is said to be residing in England.{{more}}
The discovery of the nude body of the thirteen year-old hanging from a mango tree near the public road at an area in Sion Hill, called London Road, on July 2, 2002 had sent the country into a state of shock.
The form two Emmanuel High School student and double-second player of the Sion Hill Euphoneum steelband appeared to have been battered and sexually molested, and her blouse was tied around her neck.
Lokeisha’s murder caused angry reaction throughout the country with police and politicians appealing to the public to come forward with any information which could lead to the arrest of her killer(s). Rewards were offered.
It was one year after that someone was finally arrested. Patrick Lovelace of Belmont was arrested and charged with murder and committed to stand trial by the Serious Offences Court at the conclusion of the preliminary inquiries last February, after the court heard evidence from 12 witnesses.
Now Lovelace, who remains on remand at Her Majesty’s Prisons must wait still longer to have his day in court.
Meanwhile there remains much expectation as to who the star witness for whom the trial has been delayed, really is.