Consultant botanist, 90-year-old George Proctor, who is charged with conspiracy to murder his wife, is to return to the Home Circuit Court today.

Proctor and his 42-year-old co-accused, Glenmore Fillington, 42-year-old driver of Lyn Avenue, Christiana, Manchester, appeared in court Monday.

The men's case was set for trial Monday but had to be put off after Fillington's lawyer, Donna McIntosh-Gayle, withdrew from the case.

Prosecutor Diahann Gordon-Harrison told the court the prosecution was ready for the trial to proceed. She pointed out that all the witnesses were in court.

McIntosh-Gayle said she needed a junior lawyer to assist her and subsequently withdrew from the case.

Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh extended the men's bail until Wednesday. When the men return to court, another lawyer will be assigned to represent Fillington and a new trial date will be set.

Deputy mayor of Portmore attacked

Deputy Mayor of Portmore Owen Saunderson was attacked at his home by a man who also smashed his windscreen following a disagreement on Sunday.

The Gleaner was informed that about 8 p.m. Sunday, Saunderson, councillor for the Braeton division in St Catherine, was approached by a man who demanded a sum of money. The man reportedly brandished a knife and slashed at him twice.

When Saunderson ran into his house, his attacker threw stones at the house and in the process, smashed the windscreen of his sport utility vehicle.

The Portmore police are now searching for the man.

Mayor of Portmore Keith Hinds told The Gleaner he was horrified by the attack on the municipal official.

"Such a terrible thing should never happened. It is a sad thing to find oneself in. We just hope that time will heal the hurt of the deputy,'' Hinds said.

Armadale fire enquiry resumes next Monday

The commission of enquiry into the circumstances that led to a fire at the Armadale juvenile correctional facility in St Ann will continue on Monday, July 27.

The first session of the enquiry into the deadly fire was adjourned just 20 minutes into the session on June 30.

The enquiry is being led by retired Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Paul Harrison.

The May 22 fire at the institution resulted in the death of seven girls and the injury of many others.

Superintendent on trial gets bail extension

A police superintendent charged in relation to the death of a constable got an extension of her bail until August 21 when she is scheduled to return to the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court.

A preliminary inquiry into the incident where Superintendent Yvonne Martin-Daley's Suzuki Grand Vitara sport utility vehicle hit a policeman's motorcycle has so far included evidence from three witnesses, one of whom is a motor-vehicle certifying officer.

The Crown is contending that the policewoman made a U-turn, which resulted in the death of the Constable Mark Needham, who was on his way to work.

Reports are that on the morning of July 15 last year, Needham was travelling easterly towards Kingston on his way to work on a Honda motorcycle. When Needham approached the Matrix ice factory, Martin-Daley, heading in the same direction, made a U-turn.

The motorbike slammed into the right side of the SUV, killing Needham on the spot.

A file was sent to the director of public prosecutions who ruled that the senior policewoman be charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Martin-Daley has maintained her innocence.