Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A man accused of killing his stepbrother and wounding his father was remanded in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Vernal Whyte, 27, an engineer from Portmore, St Catherine, was denied bail for the murder of Norval Plummer, 15, from Christian Pen, St Catherine.

Whyte's attorney, Clive Mullings, told the court his client has been in custody a long time and is fit for bail. The court heard that Whyte was seen by a psychiatrist and was fit to plead. The court's journal was, however, absent.

Resident Magistrate Vaughn Smith told Mullings he wants to examine the journal to see the findings of previous visits. It was agreed Whyte would return on March 12.

Allegations say about 6 p.m. on June 20 last year, Whyte was involved in a dispute with Plummer who was chopped with a machete. Whyte's stepmother intervened and was chopped on her hand. The accused man's father attempted to rescue his wife and was also cut.

They were taken to the hospital where Plummer was pronounced dead.

Whyte later turned himself in to the Portmore police. He is charged with murder and two counts of wounding.