By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TAXI driver accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend inside her car at a gas station will have to wait five weeks for a trial date.

John Manuel Adderley, 39, was expected to stand trial in the Supreme Court for the murder of Denise Adderley, the country’s third homicide for 2011.

However, an armed robbery trial before Justice Bernard Turner, who was selected to preside over the matter, had already begun and the judge was not prepared to halt the armed robbery trial in favour of the murder trial.

Prosecutors Ambrose Armbrister and Kevin Farrington had tried to get the matter before Senior Justice Jon Isaacs. However, along with several arraignments, that judge was himself dealing with an attempted armed robbery trial yesterday.

Justice Turner stood the matter down to August 21 for a fixture hearing, when a trial date will be announced.

Adderley is accused of the January 9, 2011 murder of Denise Adderley.

Ms Adderley, a pre-school teacher at the Uriah McPhee primary school, was gunned down on the night in question inside her car at the Texaco Service Station on Wulff and Kemp roads.

The taxi-driver, who was arraigned before Justice Isaacs last year on July 8, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He has retained Murrio Ducille to defend him.