Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The case of murdered British consul John Terry will be mentioned in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on July 16, as the prime suspect is currently before another court on separate charges.

Twenty-four-year-old Richard Ewen, of a Bull Bay address in St. Andrew, should have stood trial for the diplomat's murder when the case was last mentioned on Monday. However, at that time he had failed to appear in court.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Ewen's absence was due to him being in custody at the Central Police Station in Kingston on unrelated charges of robbery, and illegal possession of firearm.

"The checks have been done, and he (Ewen) is for court at the Home Circuit Court on July 11 for robbery and illegal possession of firearm," Resident Magistrate Sandria Wong-Small informed Ewen's defence lawyer Trevor Ho Lyn.

"What does Your Honour intend to do?" asked Ho Lyn.

"This matter was scheduled for a whole week, so we're going to have to find another week and make arrangements for Mr Ewen to be transported," the judge replied.

"I was thinking of the week following the 11 of July," said Ho Lyn.

"So we'll mention it on the 16th of July. The order for warrant is vacated," Wong-Small agreed.

On September 10, 2009, John Terry was found dead at his home in Mount Carey, St. James, as a result of being strangled. At the time of Terry's death, Ewen had been working as a security guard in Montego Bay.