A dispute between prison officers and Government over pay delayed two murder court cases for the second time this week.

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) spent more than an hour in a general meeting this morning.

It resulted in a vote to call off a work to rule and enter into voluntary mediation over stalled salary negotiations. However, the meeting meant no officers were available to escort prisoners from Westgate to Magistrates’ Court.

That resulted in two separate hearings relating to the murder of Aquil Richardson on Boxing Day and of Matthew Clarke on April 9 having to be postponed.

Antoine Herbert Anderson, 31, and Phillip Anthony Bradshaw, 26, were not produced for an preliminary inquiry in the Richardson case - a step taken before the matter heads to the Supreme Court.

In addition, Kyle Sousa, 17, Vernon Michael Simons, 23, and Shannon Jerome Tucker, 32, were not present for an administrative hearing at which lawyers planned to discuss scheduling their trial for the alleged murder of Mr. Clarke.

Both matters were put off until tomorrow, having already been postponed from Tuesday due to the prison action.

* Full story in tomorrow's Royal Gazette.