The court was forced to grant an early adjournment yesterday because the man accused of the murder of 64-year-old Ambassador Peter King was hungry.

Sheldon Pusey, 25, who is charged with King's murder, complained to his lawyer, Berry Bryan, during the luncheon adjournment that he was feeling ill because he had not eaten all day.

Bryan informed Senior Puisne Judge Marva McIntosh who is presiding at the trial in the Home Circuit Court.

The judge was not pleased to hear that the correctional services had stopped providing lunch for prisoners on trial in the courts. The jurors had to wait until close to 3 p.m. for court to resume after the luncheon adjournment. The judge apologised to the jurors for the late start and informed them of Pusey's situation.

Remedy situation

The judge said she made contact with the prison authority and hoped the situation would be remedied. The judge said she had to adjourn court for the rest of the day because by the time Pusey was given something to eat, it would be time to adjourn the court.

Some of the policemen manning the court explained that for several years, prisoners on trial were not provided with lunch. They said if relatives did not take lunch for the prisoners, none was provided.

Pusey's trial began on January 19, and a policeman disclosed that most times it was Pusey's lawyer who provided lunch for him. Pusey's relatives have not been attending court.

The judge disclosed that Pusey is affected by sickle cell and every effort should be made for him to have his lunch. She told the police to ensure that Pusey was not taken back to court in the days until he had eaten.

King was fatally stabbed and chopped at his house at Waterloo Road, St Andrew, between March 19 and 20, 2006. Pusey said in his defence that King was forcing him to be intimate with him and he stabbed King.