An inquest into the death of a wealthy US businessman whoe family believe was murdered was yesterday adjourned until the start of May.

Coroner Juan Wolffe agreed to a request from Dimitri Pappas? father to allow more time to line up leading medical professionals to give evidence at the inquiry into how his son died in Bermuda more than 18 months ago.

The 37-year-old American, who was based in the Cayman Islands, was found hanging in a closet at the Brightside Apartments in Flatts on June 20, 2005.

Lawyer Mark Diel appeared at a hearing yesterday at Magistrates? Court on behalf of Mr. Pappas? father Jack. He told the court his services had only just been engaged and he needed more time to speak to his client and study the evidence.

He said Mr. Pappas Sr. also wanted to ensure that American Dr. Michael Baden, considered by some to be one of the world?s leading pathologists, could appear at the inquest.

Acting Inspector Adrian Cook, the Coroner?s officer, told the court that Mr. Pappas Jr.?s family had known the date of the inquest for seven weeks. He agreed to disclose all the witness statements he had gathered to Mr. Diel. Mr. Wolfe adjourned the inquest, which he said was of ?great importance and interest?, until May 1 and 2.

He said he believed the interests of justice would best be served by allowing Dr. Baden to contribute but that the matter must be heard on the next date, barring exceptional circumstances.

Acting Insp. Cook said after the hearing that the investigation into Mr. Pappas? death had been a ?ticklish? one. ?There were things that had to be checked,? he said, adding that he didn?t think the issue of criminal charges had arisen during the Police inquiry.

He said he was disappointed that the inquest had had not gone ahead ?in a sense in that the delay in and of itself tends to breed criticism?.

He said that questions had been asked by Government House about when the inquest was to be held. ?There were calls coming through from Government House,? he said. ?The family, they had got the (US) State Department involved.?

He added that he would copy Mr. Diel his entire file on the case. ?This is all about being open,? he added. The officer said he had intended to call eight witnesses if the matter had gone ahead yesterday.

Mr. Pappas? death sparked interest from news organisations in both the Caymans and the US. At the time, Police said a pathology report did not indicate foul play, but Mr. Pappas? family, who have been doing their own research, insist he did not take his own life.