Two men accused of trying to shoot a couple dead will stand trial next April as long as one of them is extradited from the US by then.

Sanchey Grant, 19, from Warwick and Jahmel Blakeney, 28, are accused of attempting to murder Shaki Minors and his pregnant girlfriend Renee Kuchler as they left Southside Cinema late last November 13.

Grant pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chief Justice Richard Ground at an arraignment hearing on August 2.

The men were both arrested in connection with the shooting the day after it happened.

However, Blakeney, who is a citizen of both Bermuda and the United States, fled to the US after being released on Police bail.

He was charged with attempted murder in his absence on April 26 and arrested at a residence in Brooklyn, New York on June 10.

Prosecutors are currently seeking his extradition to Bermuda.

Blakeney is the son of Government Minister Glenn Blakeney.

According to documents from the US District Court in Brooklyn, he intends to challenge his extradition.

He will do so on paper, rather than during an evidentiary hearing.

Blakeney must submit his challenge by September 8, the Government must file its opposition by September 22, and Blakeney then has until September 24 to reply.

The case was mentioned in Bermuda yesterday at the monthly Supreme Court arraignments session. Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves set April 18, 2011 as the date the pair will stand trial.

However, Grant's lawyer, Craig Attridge, complained he should not have to wait almost eight months for a trial when he is being held on remand in custody.

The judge agreed such a long delay was "very unusual", as the usual policy is that a trial should be held within six months of the first arraignment date.

However, he said that while he took Mr. Attridge's concerns seriously, the circumstances of this particular case have created "a bit of difficulty" which means it should be delayed rather than having two separate trials.

Mr. Attridge then commented that the US may choose not to extradite Blakeney "especially the way the US treats its citizens they fiercely protect their citizens".

Mr. Justice Greaves responded by saying the April 18 trial date will stand "if we are able to have Mr. Blakeney by Christmas".

However, he said if it looked like it would take longer to decide what is happening with the extradition "we will have to go to trial with this defendant (Grant) earlier than April".

He remanded Grant back into custody until the November 1 arraignments session, when an update will be given.