KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Police have a charged a man with plotting with other people to murder his 35-year-old wife, even as he remains in prison on a separate charge against the woman.

Police allege that Emerson Delplesche had between May 31, 2017 and February 4, this year, while in custody at Her Majesty’s Prison in Kingstown, agreed with others to commit the act which would have amounted to the commission of the offence of murder on Nadine Delplesche.

Delplesche was not required to plea when he appeared in court earlier this week to answer the charge.

The woman, a secondary school teacher, was shot in the stomach on February at her home. She remains a patient of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

The prosecution objected to bail for the accused on the grounds that he is on remand in connection with another crime he reportedly committed against his wife.

The court heard that the investigation is almost at an end and that at least 25 witnesses had been identified.

The accused has asked for full disclosure in the matter, telling the court that his family is at risk and is being threatened.

“If today or tomorrow either of my daughters get shot or my son or my mother, or wife — because I am not divorced as yet — the said virtual complainant has to get killed, I think the authorities should be responsible.

“I mention to an officer I owe people their money and people need their money. Since then, a lot of threats have been going on,” he added.

The preliminary inquiry in the matter has been set for June 26, 2018.