Two young men - who are first cousins - were charged with murder yesterday in the stabbing death of Tekle Mallory.

The 22-year-old Mr. Mallory was murdered in the early hours of Saturday morning during a fight outside the Paget Ice Queen.

The two men appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday afternoon under a cloak of heavy Police security.

As members of the media scrambled to get photographs of the men, Police officers grabbed Royal Gazette photographer David Skinner and physically removed him from the area of the Police van which transported the men to court.

Only members of the media and family were allowed into the courtroom as the charges against the men were read.

Quincy Stanley Brangman, 22, and Everett Jahni Bean, 18, stand jointly accused of Mr. Mallory's murder.

The two cousins were not required to enter pleas yesterday when they appeared before Magistrate Edward King, as the charges they face must be heard in Supreme Court.

Brangman, of Cook's Hill Lane, Sandys Parish is facing two additional charges in relation to the fight outside the popular late-night eatery.

He is charged with intent to do bodily harm and the unlawful wounding of Lemuel Weeks during the deadly weekend fight, as well as possession of an offensive weapon - a knife - in a public place.

Brangman was represented in court by Llewellyn Peniston, while Bean, of Warwick, is represented by Elizabeth Christopher.

Crown prosecutor Juan Wolffe asked the court for four weeks to prepare papers against the two men.

"There are still statements to be obtained and evidence to be received," said Mr. Wolffe.

Ms Christopher then asked for earlier disclosure of the papers relating to Bean. "I don't, at present, understand what the case is with regards to my client," she said. The defence lawyer said she did not want to wait four weeks for information to add to "the precious little I know at this stage."

Mr. Peniston added his support to that request but the Magistrate said such a request was beyond his powers.

Both men were remanded to custody, as bail is only granted to those charged with murder under exceptional circumstances.

The two young cousins displayed no emotion as they heard Mr. King read the charges against them.

As they were led from the courtroom, Bean and Brangman exchanged embraces with their supporters - some of whom stifled tears while others simply called out repeatedly "everything is going to be OK" as the men were led away.

Outside the court, after Police had taken the defendants away, tensions boiled among the 20 to 30 people gathered in the area to support either the defendants or the victim.

While family members dried tears and leaned on each other for support, others exchanged heated words and muttered obscenities before calmer members of the crowd led them away.

"Regrettably there were four families involved in this sad set of circumstances," said Mr. Peniston after the court session. "Our sympathy ought to be extended to all four families in equal measure."

Bean and Brangman are next expected to appear in plea court on August 21.

Police spokesman Coleman Easton said the third person arrested this past Saturday - a 22-year-old man - has been bailed.