Trelawny based footballer, Jeff Pearce, is to return to court later this month, to answer to a charge of 2 counts of murder, in relation to an incident that occurred 2 years ago.

Pearce appeared before the St. James Circuit Court on Monday, March 5 for the case to be mentioned.

The court was told that defence lawyer Roy Fairclough was unavailable, due to another matter in another parish.

Pearce was remanded into police custody and is to return to court on March 20.

He is charged with the murder of 2 religious leaders: 27 year old Ryan Jackson and 23 year old Bucklere Smith.

Jackson and smith were leaders of a church, located on Barnett Street in St. James.

Reports are that on November 13, 2016, Jackson and Smith were at a hardware store purchasing tiles, when they were approached by Pearce who brandished a handgun and opened fire at them.

Further reports are that police officers in the area responded and challenged Pearce.

Police say Pearce shot at the cops who returned fire and Pearce was hit.

All 3 wounded persons were taken to hospital, where Jackson and Smith were pronounced dead, and Pearce admitted under police guard.

Police say they recovered a firearm at the scene of the incident.

Meantime, defence lawyer Roy Fairclough says, his client has indicated that he is innocent of the charge against him.

Fairclough says Pearce was among a crowd of people who ran when gunmen opened fire at the 2 religious leaders.

He says the police chased the gunmen, who ran into the crowd and during the melee, Pearce was shot and wounded.

He adds that as it relates to the firearm, which was allegedly dropped by one of the fleeing gunmen, the case now concerns proving that the weapon was the one used to shoot the 2 pastors.

The matter resumes on March 20 for plea and case management.