MONTEGO BAY, St James — The case against two brothers charged with murder in relation to the death of their uncle is being hampered by the delayed release of the autopsy findings.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ricardo Rhomes and Shane Samuels were charged after the killing last December of 55-year-old Bentley Vaughns. They are being represented by attorney-at-law Suwayne Phillips and Adrian Dayes, respectively.

When the matter came before the St James Parish Court recently, the clerk informed the court that the post-mortem report was still outstanding. The document, which will indicate the cause of death, is considered critical to the case.

As a result of the outstanding report, presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce set the matter for mention on July 18.

Samuels’ bail was extended and Rhomes remanded in custody until that date.

The incident is said to have taken place in Rose Heights, St James, around 2:00 am on December 26, 2023.

It is alleged that during a family dispute Samuels hurled a building block at Vaughns, striking him in the head, while Rhomes is accused of brandishing a knife and fatally stabbing their uncle.

The police were summoned and Vaughns was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The brothers were subsequently arrested and charged.