MONTEGO BAY, St James — A St James man accused of killing his wife has been hospitalised following an alleged attack by fellow jail inmates. Thirty-one-year-old Dane Watson was on Wednesday remanded in absentia after he failed to appear in court because of his injuries.

He is charged with the murder of 35-year-old Melissa Samnath, who was a Jamaican American living in New York.

Watson was scheduled to appear before St James Parish Court Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton, but the court was informed that he was unable to appear. He is now scheduled to appear on October 8 when the judge is expected to examine the evidence already before the court and determine whether the matter should proceed to the Circuit Court.

Investigators told the court that Samnath was taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital on April 29 with multiple injuries and was later pronounced dead. Police allege that Watson transported her to the hospital, and then left the facility.

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Investigators further allege that Watson subsequently left St James and was later located in Gayle, St Mary. Police said Watson contacted relatives because he was concerned about his safety. His relatives then alerted the Gayle police, prompting coordination between law-enforcement personnel in the two parishes.

Watson was eventually taken into custody and handed over to investigators in St James, where he was subsequently charged with murder.

According to media reports, Samnath was killed during what was a birthday trip to Jamaica. There were also reports that she realised she was in danger and sent text message to relatives who have played an active role in drawing public attention to the case.