he would not be there, resulting in a trial being postponed.

Tyrone Chin said it was "usual courtesy'' for a lawyer to notify the court if he was unable to attend.

Mr. Chin spoke out after he had to postpone the trial of Quincy Stanley Brangman because his lawyer Julian Hall did not appear.

Eight Police officers appeared at Magistrates' Court to give evidence against Brangman, 21, who is accused of driving while impaired, driving dangerously, failing to stop, refusing to give a breath sample, using offensive words, violently resisting arrest, and assaulting a Police officer.

Brangman, of Cooks Hill Lane, Sandys Parish, said he discovered on Monday that Mr. Hall was off the Island, but said he did not tell the court.

Mr. Chin said: "It is usual courtesy to the court that your lawyer is to write to the court saying that it can't go ahead because he is off the Island so that witnesses do not have to be called.'' Mr. Chin also asked Brangman, who denies the charges, why he had not alerted the court when he discovered Mr. Hall was not available.

Mr. Hall told the Appeals Court last Thursday that he had to leave that day for England because his mother-in-law had died.

Brangman's trial was rescheduled for March 14. Mr. Chin warned Brangman that the trial would go ahead whether or not Mr. Hall appeared.

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT CTS Two men arrested for sexual assault Police officers yesterday arrested two men in connection with an alleged sexual assault that was said to have taken place earlier that day.

Western CID is investigating the alleged incident which was reported to have happened in Southampton around 2 a.m.