The trial for Michael McLean, the man accused of the 2006 killing of the family of six in St Thomas, was delayed in the Home Circuit Court yesterday.

Attorney-at-law Zephaniah Forrest representing McLean reported that he is withdrawing from the case.

In the meantime, presiding judge Gloria Smith has given McLean another chance to get a lawyer or he will be assigned a legal aid attorney.

McLean is to return to court on June 22.

Allegations are that on February 26, 2006, McLean 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.

It is reported that Martin-McCool and three of her children were found with their throats slashed on the Prospect Beach in St Thomas.

Later that same day, the burnt body of Martin-McCool's aunt, Terry Ann Mohammed, 40, was discovered in an adjoining district.

The body of Jihad was found a week later in St Mary.