THE MAN jointly charged with Silas Mack for rape, robbery and kidnapping has been granted bail.

Ishmael Mohammed approached Chaguanas First Court Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John from the public gallery when his name was called yesterday.

Mohammed, 26, secured $150,000 bail on November 18.

Forde-John told the court the matters will not be started before the end of the year because she was dealing with five murder enquiries.

At the last hearing, State attorney Veona Neal said lead attorney, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, would be prepared to start the matter in the next three weeks.

It is alleged that Mack, 33, of King Sultan Avenue, Cunupia, sometime between May 31 and June 2 last year, murdered 19-year-old Gail Durity. Her body was found in a Manzanilla coconut plantation the day after she left her Dass Trace, Enterprise, home.

Mack is charged also with kidnapping eight-year-old Leah Lammy and stealing her cellular phone.

He is also charged with the kidnapping and murder of Devika Lalman. The teenager was found in January in a rice field off the Southern Main Road, Cunupia. She had been missing for five days.

Mack also faces charges of kidnapping Sally Lobai, who disappeared on February 11 after she travelled into Chaguanas for a job interview, and Rianna Parag, who disappeared last December 16 after a shopping trip in Chaguanas. Neither has been found.

He is being represented by attorney Deke Rohlehr.

Forde-John requested Seetahal be present in the court on December 10.