WESTERN BUREAU — National footballer, Theodore Whitmore yesterday had his $200,000 bail extended when he appeared in the Trelawny Circuit Court to answer a manslaughter charge arising out of the death of his team-mate Steven “Shorty” Malcolm, who was killed in a motor vehicle accident.

He is scheduled to reappear in court next Monday when his case will again be mentioned.

When the footballer appeared in court yesterday, Crown Counsel, Tanya Lobban told the court that she was not ready to proceed with the case because there were some “outstanding matters” on the case file to be addressed.

Justice Lennox Campbell was then asked by Lobban to set a mention date for November 4.

Whitmore was arrested and charged in June, after a six- member, all-female jury found him criminally responsible for Malcolm’s death, which occurred last January.

Malcolm was travelling in Whitmore’s Toyota Grande motor car when the vehicle crashed in an embankment on the Spring Hill main road in Trelawny.

There have been conflicting reports on who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident and an inquest started in April to decide if charges should be laid against anyone.

After the verdict, a warrant was subsequently issued for Whitmore’s arrest.

Two days later, when he appeared in the Duncans Resident Magistrate’s Court, Whitmore was granted $200,000 bail with surety and the October 28 date set for his trial in the Trelawny Circuit Court.

Montego Bay attorney, George Thomas is representing Whitmore.

Meanwhile, Justice Lennox Campbell, in his opening remarks at yesterday’s opening of the Trelawny Circuit Court, said that he was convinced that the administration of justice in Jamaica is in good hands.

He pointed out that the justice system is an important feature of the country’s democracy and urged citizens to participate in the process.

“We know the disadvantages … sometimes you are taken away from your normal course of business but in the interest of our democracy we should participate,” Campbell said.

A total of 14 cases are slated to be heard during the three-week- long Trelawny Circuit Court.

The list includes five murder cases, three rapes and two carnal abuse cases.