A bail hearing is to be held for Patterson on March 21.

Thursday was the second deferred bail hearing since the case was first called up in the St James Parish Court in November of last year. The last deferred hearing was held in December.

The new date was set when Patterson made an appearance in the St James Parish Court before Justice Andrea Thomas.

The Crown told the court that post-mortem and DNA reports were outstanding.

Townsend's scantily clad body was retrieved from the sea in Reading, St James on October 21.

On November 11, the police had stated that Townsend travelled from Kingston to Montego Bay where she was picked up by Patterson at approximately 7:30 pm on October 20. During the evening, they visited a restaurant in Hanover and a guest house in St James.

At some point during the night, an argument reportedly developed between them. Patterson is accused of strangling Townsend and disposing of her body.

Patterson was named as a person of interest on October 22. He was picked up at a guest house in Hanover by a Police Area One operational team on November 2 after missing at least two deadlines to turn himself in.