Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
western bureau

Two men jailed since September for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, were again remanded when they appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for the start of the preliminary enquiry.

Another bail application on behalf of Keneil Corbett and Ryan Murray, both of Rose Heights in Montego Bay, was denied.

Another preliminary enquiry date was set for March 7.

The investigating officer was bound over and was instructed to ensure that the complainant and the other witnesses, who were absent on the last two preliminary dates, attend court.

extremely cooperative

Corbett's lawyer, Charles Sinclair, argued that the men have been extremely cooperative with the police and had even voluntarily offered DNA samples to prove their innocence.

He also mentioned that they have been behind bars for the past six months.

However, RM Evan Brown refused to grant them bail.

Allegations are that on September 9, 2006 the complainant accompanied her friend to a home in Farm Heights, St. James, where they saw four men, one of whom was identified as her friend's boyfriend.

The friend and her man went into a room while the complainant stayed in the living room. She later checked the room but found that her friend had already left.

When the girl went on the verandah to enquire from the other three men about her friend's whereabouts, one said she had been left in their care.

One of the men held her and allegedly began to remove her clothes. It is said that all three took turns sexually assaulting the child. One of them remained at the house, while the others left, to ensure that she did not leave the room.

It is also alleged that the following morning, the men assaulted her again. She was able to escape through a window on September 11 when she made a report to her mother.

Corbett and Murray were arrested on September 16, after the complainant pointed them out to the police.