High Court Judge Vinnette Graham Allen on Wednesday pleaded with a custody officer to ensure that Robert Fowler - the man who is charged with the murder of 20-year-old accounting clerk Khanice Jackson - gets medical attention.
Justice Graham Allen's plea follows his attorney Lyndell Wellesley's complaint that Fowler had not received medical attention ordered by the court last year.
Fowler, who the court heard has been experiencing severe discomfort, was further remanded when he appeared via Zoom in the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Wednesday's hearing had been scheduled for Fowler to plea guilty. But when the matter was called up, Mr. Wellesley said it was unreasonable for him to engage Mr. Fowler in relation to the guilty plea, given the fact that Fowler has a medical challenge.
The judge stood down the hearing twice after Mr. Wellesley told the court that he visited Mr. Fowler on Tuesday and he had still not received medical attention.
Justice Allen reminded Mr. Wellesley that he had asked on May 25, for an adjournment for his client to make a particular plea.
She instructed him to find out from his client if he had received medical treatment.
When Mr. Wellesley returned, he told the court that an ultrasound that was scheduled to be administered had not been done.
Before standing down the matter for a second time, the judge requested that the custody officer appear via Zoom to inform the court why the accused had not been taken to the Kingston Public Hospital.
The officer explained that Mr. Fowler was not brought to the facility because he needs to redo a series of blood tests that were done a year ago.
These tests are to be done at the Blood Bank.
Responding to the judge regarding when Mr. Fowler will be taken to the Blood Bank, the officer said October 31, due to logistics challenges.
The judge then pleaded with the custody officer to ensure that the accused gets the required medical attention.
Justice Graham Allen said: "I beg you, please, Sir, this is a human being nothwithstanding that he's in custody; he's a human being that needs to be attended to by a doctor."
The matter was adjourned with a new hearing date set for January 23, 2023.
Khanice Jackson, who resided in Independence City, Portmore, St. Catherine, was found dead on March 26 last year, two days after she had been reported missing.
Her decomposing body was found in an open lot near the Portmore Fishing Village.
Fowler was taken into custody and charged after he reportedly confessed to the murder.
