Magistrates' Court.

A date for preliminary inquiries into the incident was set by acting Senior Magistrate Edward King. The boys, who are facing indictable charges which may be tried in Supreme Court, did not have to enter pleas to the charges yesterday.

In addition to allegedly attacking and causing grievous bodily harm to the late David Sousa in February, the boys are charged with stealing $27 from their victim.

Mr. Sousa, who was 48 years old, died some weeks after the incident but Police have never linked his death to the alleged attack.

Defence counsel Renee Foggo, who stood in for Elizabeth Christopher, represented Edmund James Lightbourne, 17, of Berkeley Road, Pembroke.

Attorney Larry Mussenden appeared with Urian Keon Dickerson, 17, of Bay Lane, Sandy's.

The oldest of the boys, Akil Iabrile Jones, 19, of Cambridge Road, Sandy's, was represented by Patrick Doherty.

And Dajoine MacDonald Smith, 17, also of Cambridge Road was represented by Ms.

Foggo.

Lightbourne, Dickerson, and Smith all chose long-form preliminary inquiries into their cases.

Jones however elected a short-form preliminary inquiry in which a summary of the incident is presented rather than extensive questioning of witnesses.

"I like to be a little different sometimes, for what it's worth,'' said Jones attorney Patrick Doherty. All four preliminary inquiries will be heard at the same time in June.