A man, who the police allege is a serial killer, was denied bail when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Roger McKenzie, who is accused of hacking to death two women in separate incidents last year, was further remanded in custody by presiding magistrate Judith Pusey after the prosecution requested more time to complete the case file of one of his alleged victims, Patrice Johnson.

According to an officer from the Kingston East Criminal Investigations Branch, McKenzie allegedly used a knife to stab Johnson 25 times all over her body on November 25 last year following a dispute between the two of them. He allegedly committed the act at approximately 3:30 pm along the Palisadoes strip in the vicinity of the Morgan’s Harbour Hotel.

But the accused was slapped with another murder charge when he was picked up by the police. The police said the accused was responsible for the death of a woman earlier that year under similar circumstances.

After being charged in Kingston for the death of Johnson, he was then taken to St Elizabeth where he was charged for the murder of the second victim.

McKenzie is set to re-appear in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on May 17, and to make his first appearance in the Black River Home Circuit Court on June 18 to answer charges for the second murder.