Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The case of a woman accused of beating her brother-in-law with a broomstick will continue in February, after it was revealed on Wednesday that the complainant had recently died.

Alicia Humphrey-Howard, of Flankers in St James, is currently answering to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

On Wednesday, the investigating officer informed Resident Magistrate (RM) Vivienne Harris that the complainant, Michael Reid, had died suddenly.

The officer also explained that he had not appeared before the court with the complainant's medical certificate on the previous mention date in December because he was on sick leave.

However, RM Harris was not satisfied with that explanation, telling the officer that he should have made contact to inform the court about his sick leave.

She also ordered that Reid's death certificate and post-mortem report be made available for the next court date.

Humphrey-Howard subsequently had her bail extended until February 29.

Reports are that on June 17, 2011, Humphrey-Howard accused Reid of dropping baby clothing she had pinned on a clothes line on to the ground. She is accused of using a broomstick to hit him on his side, causing an injury for which Reid had to seek medical treatment.