An outbreak of sickness caused the murder trial of Kamel Worrell to be adjourned for a second consecutive day.

Proceedings were postponed on Thursday after a jury member phoned in sick. Although she was well enough to attend yesterday’s session, a second juror, who sits next to her in the courtroom, contacted the court yesterday morning and reported similar symptoms.

Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe asked both jurors to stay at home.

Addressing the remaining 12 jurors, Mr Justice Wolfe said that the first juror to become ill had taken a Covid test which was negative, but it was possible that she could have passed on her illness to the second juror.

He said: “Out of an abundance of caution, I have asked them not to come in, in order to protect themselves and you.

“Hopefully by Monday everything will be purged from their systems and we can continue.”

Mr Worrell has denied murdering Chavelle Dillon-Burgess on an unknown date between April 10 and June 11, 2020.

He has also denied a charge of wounding Ms Dillon-Burgess and a charge of common assault related to an incident on June 1, 2019 and six counts of common assault related to an incident on November 14, 2018.

The trial is expected to resume on Monday.

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