western bureau

After police efforts were exhausted in trying to locate a mother and daughter who were complainants in a carnal abuse and assault matter against a St. James man, the case was adjourned sine die.

When the 39-year-old accused appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, the investigating officer informed RM Winsome Henry that she could not neither find the 14-year-old girl nor her mother at the address that they had given her.

The woman police also said that checks at the girl's school revealed that she is no longer in attendance at that institution.

RM Henry thought it suitable to adjourn the matter that has been outstanding since July and has been in the same state since the past two months.

The accused, which resides in Montego Heights, is alleged to have had sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old girl on three occasions in May.

It is further alleged that on the third occasion, the child woke up and saw the accused holding a pistol to her ear. He allegedly told her that she should do as he says if she knew what was good for her. The child reported the incident to her mother on June 15.

He was also charged with assault occasioning bodily harm involving the mother of the complainant on a separate occasion.