MONTEGO BAY, St James — A chef accused of stabbing a woman to death, and then choking her young son who witnessed the attack, is scheduled to return to court on July 29.

Ezroy Allen, who is charged with murder in connection with the killing of his neighbour, 38-year-old Kadene Beswick of Catherine Hall, remains without legal representation after two appearances before the St James Parish Court. As a result, no application for bail has been made on his behalf and he remains behind bars until the matter is again mentioned in court.

The allegations are that on April 30 Beswick was asleep when she was awakened by sounds coming from inside her house. Upon waking, she reportedly saw Allen inside her bedroom. It is alleged that Allen then attacked Beswick, stabbing her in the process. The commotion reportedly woke her minor son, who witnessed the attack on his mother.

The court heard that Beswick then told her son to run. However, it is alleged that Allen grabbed the child and began choking him until he lost consciousness.

Allen reportedly later fled the scene and returned to his nearby home.

Residents, who said they heard screams coming from the house during the night, alerted the police.

According to a report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Corporate Communications Network (CCN), about 12:30 the following morning police were summoned to the residence. They found Beswick’s body, on its back, with multiple stab wounds. Neighbours removed Beswick’s minor child from the premises.

Crime officer for Area One, Superintendent Jermaine Anglin said a major turning point in the case came with the deployment of a trained dog from the JCF’s Canine Division. File

An investigation was immediately launched and, as it progressed, several individuals were interviewed and various forensic tools were used to gather evidence.

Crime officer for Area One, Superintendent Jermaine Anglin said a major turning point in the case came with the deployment of a trained dog from the JCF’s Canine Division.

The dog assisted investigators in locating key pieces of evidence, including the weapon believed to have been used in the attack on Beswick and clothing linked to the suspect.

Allen was subsequently removed from his home, taken into custody, and later charged with murder.

Superintendent Anglin described the incident as a senseless act and emphasised the commitment of detectives across Area One to pursuing justice through all lawful means. He noted that the use of specialised resources highlights the determination of law enforcement to solve crimes and provide closure to affected families.

When Allen appeared in court last Wednesday the prosecutor informed the court that the scene of crime CD and statement were now on file, along with the corroborating officer’s statement. However, the post-mortem report, ID parade form, CCTV footage and functionality statement, as well as the forensic certificate, remain outstanding.

As a result, Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton remanded Allen in custody until the matter is again before the court.