ST JAMES, Jamaica— The St James Circuit Court has begun hearing a bail application for Rushawn Patterson, the man who is charged with the murder of popular social media influencer Aneka “Slickianna” Townsend.

The hearing was called up at around 11:25 am, where the crown outlined its case against Patterson and the reasons he should not be given bail.

Among the reasons given are that Patterson is a flight risk and that if given bail, he may not show up for court.

The crown also told Justice Andrea Thomas that Patterson has another case in St Andrew. That case has to do with an alleged abduction of a woman in 2018.

The crown told the court that Patterson is still on bail in that matter.

Patterson is being represented by a new attorney Dionne Meyler Barrett, who outlined reasons he should be given bail on two grounds – humanitarian, and based on the weakness of the crown’s case.

Patterson was previously represented by Michelle Thomas.

Meyler Barrett told the court that some of what the crown mentioned was being heard for the first time.

The matter was stood down at noon for later this afternoon.

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

READ: Body of woman found on beach in St James

On November 11, the police had stated that Townsend travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay, St James 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. Patterson is accused of strangling Townsend and disposing of her body.

Patterson was named as a person of interest on October 22. He was picked up at a guest house in Hanover by a Police Area One operational team on November 2 after missing at least two deadlines to turn himself in.

READ: Police name person of interest in death of woman believed to be social media influencer

Anthony Lewis