WESTERN BUREAU:

Two St James residents accused of trying to fraudulently obtain a land title in 2010 had their case put off until April 24 as their lawyer was not present at the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Neville Bennett, from Lilliput, and Margaret-Ella Rowe, of Westgate Hills, are jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud. Bennett is also charged with uttering a forged document, while Rowe is charged with forgery.

Allegations are that on August 30, 2010, Rowe forged a signature in the name of Ruby Salmon-Bennett to obtain a land title for a property in Lilliput on behalf of her co-defendant Bennett.

Additionally, on September 2, 2010, Bennett allegedly attempted to acquire the title with a letter bearing the forged signature.

On Thursday, the two defendants, who were unrepresented by counsel during their last court date on January 4, told Resident Magistrate Sheron Barnes that attorney-at-law Carl Singh was representing them.

"Is your lawyer coming today?" Barnes asked.

"No, ma'am. He is in St Ann," Rowe answered.

clerk of the court Reginald England told the magistrate that he had received no correspondence from Singh.

"The matter is set for April 24. Come back to court on that date," Barnes instructed.

- C.T.