The videotapes which defence lawyers are requesting in the case of 23-year-old labourer Sheldon Pusey, who is charged with the murder of Ambassador Peter King, were not released to them on Thursday.

When the case came before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, Senior Superintendent of Police Devon Watkiss said out of an abundance of caution, he needed time to consult with the director of public prosecutions about the videotapes.

Resident Magistrate Sharon George put off the case until October 5 and remanded Pusey in custody.

Last week a resident magistrate ordered that the police should release the video tapes to the defence lawyers.

Defence lawyers Berrie Bryan and Vincent Wellesley said that the videotapes were essential to their case as they wanted to see if the killer or killers were on them. They argued that a witness said in a statement to the police that King was in the habit of using a digital camera to take photographs of sexual acts at parties at his residence.

Acted in self-defence

Pusey's lawyers, in applying for bail earlier this year, said he acted in self-defence when he went to King's house for a job and King made sexual advances on him.

King, 64, a respected member of Jamaica's trade sector for over 40 years, was fatally stabbed at his Waterloo Avenue apartment, in March last year. King's throat was slashed.

King had a party at his apartment on March 19 last year and his body was found in his apartment the following day.