The four accused of murdering Bermudian Sherlene Church and her husband Jerry are unlikely to face trial this year, US authorities have said.

The pair were kicked and stamped to death in their Georgia home by thugs searching for booze, a preliminary hearing heard earlier this month.

Mrs. Church, a 57-year-old Bermudian known on the Island as Star Swan, married Mr. Church last December.

Kevin McKay, 21, Dereck Cox, 19, and two juveniles are each charged with one count of murder, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary. The juveniles are 13 and 16.

Chief Deputy Neil Adams of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said the case would now go to a Grand Jury, likely to be held in September, to decide if there was enough evidence to take to it trial at Superior Court.

He said: "I would be very surprised if the trial were to go ahead this year."