ST JAMES, Jamaica – The case surrounding Rushawn Patterson, the man charged in connection with the October 2022 murder of social media influencer Aneika ‘Slickianna’ Townsend, has been postponed to October 24.

The new date was given when the case was called up in the St James Circuit Court on Thursday, a day before Friday’s original date set when the matter was last called up on September 23.

The Circuit Court is expected to resume on October 22 following Friday’s postponement. The reason for the postponement was not exactly clear.

It is understood all cases set for Friday were called up unplanned on Thursday.

The case was last delayed on September 23 due to an outstanding postmortem report of Slickianna and DNA results which are currently being awaited by the crown.

This resulted in Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bertram Morrison, who presided over the matter, giving an October 18 mention date to allow time for the files to be completed. However, the case will now be heard on October 24. 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, the police had stated 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. 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.

– Anthony Lewis