The trial of Michael McLean, the man accused of the 2006 slaying of a family of six including four children in St. Thomas, failed to get off the ground on Monday, June 20.
Prosecutors were forced to adjourned the trial after the attorney representing Mr. McLean, Zephaniah Forrest, reported that he was withdrawing from the case.
Presiding judge, Gloria Smith told Mr. McLean that he will be given one more opportunity to get a lawyer or he will be assigned a legal aid attorney.
He is to return to court on Wednesday [June 22] to settle legal representation.
Mr. McLean, who has repeatedly resisted attempts by the authorities to assign him a legal aid attorney, told a judge in 2008 that prosecutors should supply him with the statements in the case for him to conduct his own defence.
That request was refused and since then he has hired several attorneys who later withdrew from his case.
Prosecutors say Mr. McLean went on the rampage on February 26, 2006 and killed Patrice Martin-McCool, 30, and her children - five-year old Jihad McCool, two-year old Shane Chin, seven-year old Lloyd McCool and nine year old Jessie Ogilvie.
Investigators reported that Mrs. Martin-McCool and three of the children were found with their throats slashed on the Prospect Beach in St Thomas.
The burnt body of Mrs. Martin-McCool's aunt, Terry Ann Mohammed, 40, was discovered in an adjoining district later the same day.
Jihad's body was found a week later in St. Mary.
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