JUSTICE Franklyn Holder adjourned a murder trial after prisoners Marlon Fordyce and Troy Stewart appeared before him on a joint indictment for the murder of Rajmohan Phaskanram, called Cowboy, and they had not properly retained legal counsel.

The men are accused of committing the act between July 18 and 26, 2012. Initially, Fordyce had told the court that he had retained a female lawyer who, incidentally, was a former magistrate; but when contacted by State Prosecutrix Ms Natasha Backer, that lawyer claimed not to have been properly retained.

Meanwhile, co-accused Troy Stewart, responding to questions by the court, said he did not have the means to retain counsel, although he knew that his case would have been heard at the assizes.

Justice Holder informed the duo that their case is likely to start at the commencement of the June Assizes, on June 16. The prisoners were instructed to properly retain counsel, and to access their respective depositions, where necessary, in event the trial commences.