The two men charged in relation to the killing of a St. Catherine family are to return to court next month.

They are 32-year-old Otis Austin, of Gregory Park, Portmore, St. Catherine and Marvin Campbell Snr, otherwise called ‘Fat Man’.

Campbell and Austin are before the court in relation to the deaths of 5 family members including 3 children, at a house in Spanish Town in October last year.

Reports are that on October 9, 2016, about 1:30 a.m. a team of police officers on patrol responded to heavy gunfire in the March Pen Road community of Spanish Town.

On their arrival, a number of heavily armed men were seen at the location.

The men engaged the police in a shoot-out but managed to escape in the area.

Several houses were seen ablaze and the Spanish Town fire department was alerted and quickly extinguished the blaze.

The charred remains of five persons were later found in the burnt out premises.

Those killed are: 2 year old Koyandra Wynter; 9 year old Revaughn Evans; 14 year old Marvin Campbell Jnr; 22 year old Venisha Bartley; and 24 year old Salesha Evans.

Following investigations days after the incident last year, the first suspect Marvin Campbell Snr, was arrested and charged with murder.

Police say months later, the second suspect, Otis Austin, was formally charged with murder on Sunday, October 1.

Both Campbell Snr. and Austin recently appeared before the St. Andrew parish court.

They were remanded until Thursday, November 30.