ST JAMES, Jamaica— Rushawn Patterson, the man charged with the murder of popular social media influencer Aneka ‘Slickianna’ Townsend, was remanded when he made an appearance in the St James Circuit Court on Thursday morning.

A bail hearing had been expected for Patterson. However, when the case was called up, the prosecution told Justice Andrea Thomas that several items were outstanding.

Among the outstanding items are DNA comparison, forensic and vehicle tracking reports.

Patterson’s attorney Michelle Thomas did not pursue a bail application.

Patterson is booked to reappear in court on March 9, 2023.

It is alleged that Townsend travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay where she was picked up by Patterson at approximately 7:30 pm on October 20. During the evening, they visited a restaurant in Hanover and a guest house in St James. At some point during the night, an argument reportedly developed between them, which resulted in Patterson allegedly strangling Townsend and disposing of her body.

Townsend’s body was retrieved from the sea in Reading, St James on October 21.

The police in carrying out their investigations named Patterson as a person of interest on October 22. He was picked up at a guest house in Hanover by an Area One operational team on November 2.

-Anthony Lewis