Western Bureau

More than a year after a voluntary bill was requested for a murder case against four St James men in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, the decision to pursue the matter rests with the court.

An April 2007 request to the Director of Public Prosecution for a voluntary bill in the case against Vinette Ramsarupe, 40, charged with conspiracy to murder, Roger Horthorn, 38, Leslie Maxwell, 41, all of Tucker; and Herald Jackson, 41 of Hopeton, who are charged with the November 2006 killing of popular Montego Bay pastor, Desmond Rankine, 50. However the court is yet to get a response from the DPP. The voluntary bill was requested after the police expressed difficulities in locating witnesses.

Attorney-at-law Trevor Ho-Lyn representing Jackson, said the matter has been on the list for far too long and the evidence on file does not fully support the charges against the four.

RM Viviene Harris asked that she be given an opportunity to read the file and said she may have to make a decision about the case. The matter returns on April 22. The four had their bails extended.

Police say Rankine was making his way through a narrow road in Tucker, Irwin, about 10:15 p.m., when he was shot dead. After investigations, the four were charged.