The two men, who are charged in separate incidents with the murder of several family members appeared in the Home Circuit Court last Friday.

They are Jeffrey Perry, 35, security guard of Killancholly, St. Mary, who is charged with the murder of three children at Killancholly; and Michael McLean, 39, who is charged with the murder of six family members in St. Thomas.

Perry's trial has been set for March 18 while McLean is to return to court on February 8, when legal representation will be settled for him.

Psychiatric treatment

Perry, who had been undergoing psychiatric treatment since he was arrested in 2005, was ordered to stand trial last year after a jury found that he was fit to plead and capable of following the proceedings at his trial.

The Crown is alleging that Perry, who is a cousin of the children, fatally stabbed them on January 28, 2005.

The deceased are 15-year-old Dwane Davidson, 13-year-old Sue Ann Gordon and four-year-old Shadice Williams.

McLean has been in custody since he was arrested in March 2006.

He is charged with the murder of Patrice George-McCool, 28; Sean Chin, Jr, nine; Lloyd Marshall George McCool, three; Jihad George McCool, seven; Jesse O'Gilvie, nine; and Terry-Ann Mohammed, 40, all of Duhaney Pen, St. Thomas.

The six were murdered on February 26, 2006.