MONTEGO BAY, St James — Rushawn Patterson, who has been charged in connection with the October 2022 murder of social media influencer Aneika “Slickianna” Townsend, is receiving treatment for a medical condition, according to his lawyer.

In a medical report that was included as part of a bail application made on July 16, it was stated that Patterson was suspected to be suffering from a case of haemophilia, a condition that prevents the blood from clotting properly.

“He was bleeding uncontrollably,” defence attorney Dionne Meyler Barrett told Observer Online outside the St James Circuit Court on Monday, adding that Patterson has been responding well to treatment.

Medical professionals have since indicated that Patterson’s condition is life-threatening and have recommended that he receive medical attention at hospital.

He will return to court on October 18. The expectation is that by that date the post-mortem report and DNA results will be ready. Once the files are completed, a trial date will be set.

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

On November 11, in laying out its case against Patterson, the police said Townsend travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay where she was picked up by the accused 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.

In addition to July 16 when he was granted bail in the sum of $500,000, there were two unsuccessful attempts at bail on March 21 and October 4 last year.

On the first bail application date, High Court judge, Justice Andrea Thomas was told by Meyler-Barrett that her client’s health and safety was at risk if he remained in custody. The lawyer told the court then that her client had reported that pieces of glass were found in a bowl of porridge provided to him as part of his daily meal while in custody. However, the bail application was denied as Justice Thomas argued that, given Patterson’s accounts to the police surrounding Townsend’s whereabouts prior to her body being found, he may not return to court if given bail.

In the second application Meyler-Barrett told High Court judge, Justice Judith Pusey that Patterson had secured a no-evidence motion from Half-Way Tree Criminal Court in relation to an unrelated assault case from 2018 in which he reportedly attacked a woman in a jealous rage.

However, Justice Pusey denied that bail application on the grounds that Patterson could possibly reoffend if granted bail. She also said he was a potential flight risk.

— Anthony Lewis