An ex-Policeman accused of the manslaughter of his live-in girlfriend feared he would be "stitched up'' by colleagues investigating her suicide, a jury heard yesterday.

Tony Bukhari, a British expatriate, told Elizabeth Cadell's brother-in-law and a fellow constable that she had admitted to him of an affair with her colleague at The Royal Gazette , Adrian Robson.

Bukhari is facing two charges of manslaughter which are related to his duties as a serving Policeman and longtime boyfriend.

Two additional charges relate to whether or not he failed to take "reasonable care'' in advising and assisting her after she took an overdose of aspirin on May 31, 1997.

Sgt. Nicholas Pedro told the eight man, four woman jury yesterday afternoon that he took Bukhari outside the apartment to console him after he arrived at the couple's home on Harvey Hill Road in Devonshire on that day.

Under questioning by Crown counsel Patrick Doherty, Sgt. Pedro, who at the time of the incident was a constable, said as they sat down on the front step, Bukhari began to cry.

When asked what happened, Sgt. Pedro said Bukhari replied: "The stupid b***h swallowed pills. Aspirin. The boxes are in the trash.

"Mr. Bukhari continued crying and when asked if Liz would have killed herself intentionally, he replied `we have been having some problems','' Sgt. Pedro said.

He added that Bukhari told him: "We were engaged but she made a confession to me that she had been having an affair with Adrian Robson at the Gazette . I've got the rings inside and everything. It was not a one-off thing.'' Sgt. Pedro said Bukhari expressed his disbelief that Ms Cadell would commit suicide and then became calm after crying.

"A calm came over him,'' he said. "And he said: `There's a dictaphone in the bedroom. I need to get that if you get a chance. I don't need these boys stitching me up for this.' '' Then four years into his service, Sgt. Pedro said he became "alarmed'' at Bukhari's request and immediately reported it to then Sgt. Tracy Adams.

"A couple of minutes later Mr. Bukhari said `God, all these people I've got to tell. I expect her sister will think I did this','' continued Sgt. Pedro.

Once at the Major Incident Room, Bukhari repeated that he would like to have the dictaphone.

At first he declined to make a statement, later saying he would only give one to his divisional officer Maurice (Moby) Pett whom he trusted.

Sgt. Pedro said Bukhari called him two weeks later and said "Nick, Nick. What the f**k is going on? You know what I mean. The dictaphone.'' Bukhari Sgt. Pedro said: "I said what are you talking about, and he said `you made me look like a f****ing c**t'.

"I told him that if there were nothing on the dictaphone he would have nothing to worry about. He replied, `that's not the point. You made me look like a c**t. Thanks a f***ing lot'.'' When asked about his role during these conversations, Sgt. Pedro said at first it was to console Bukhari, but he "became alarmed and disturbed that he would act like that''.

"It was extremely inappropriate in the circumstances. His request was disturbing -- that's why I went to Sgt. Adams,'' Sgt. Pedro said.

In cross-examination by Bukhari's lawyer Delroy Duncan, Sgt. Pedro admitted that, at the time, the house was a "crime scene''.

He interrupted Mr. Duncan to say: "It was being treated as a crime scene. It was very early in a situation where a person has died.'' Harvey Hill Road neighbour Maurine Anderson said Bukhari asked to use her phone and called Police the afternoon of the incident.

Ms Anderson said he told the officer on the phone to "get here quick. I think my f***ing girlfriend died. I can't wake her up''. "It isn't a murder or anything like that. Send an ambulance fast.'' Ms Anderson suggested they go back to the apartment and as they began to walk, Bukhari covered his face with his hands and walked more slowly than she did.

"He kept saying `my f***ing girlfriend is dead' I can't wake her up','' she added.

"I wanted to help so as I got closer I started to run, and after a few paces it was like he suddenly woke up and said `no, no, don't go in, I don't want you to see her like that'.'' A few days later she went to see Bukhari at the apartment to extend her condolences to be shocked by his response -- "life goes on''.

"When I said that was a cliche m, and that he may find the next few months rather difficult, he replied that he expected to be in Bermuda for only the next few days,'' Ms Anderson added.

"He appeared to have a smirk on his face. Positively cheerful.'' Also yesterday, Ms Cadell's brother-in-law Kenneth Bentley told the court that Bukhari called him in Sussex on May 30 and told him the relationship had ended and asked his wife to call her sister "in a couple of days''.

"Tony's words were to the effect that they weren't getting along,'' Mr.

Bentley said. "Liz had apparently confessed to an affair. He told me he was thinking of moving out to the Police barracks.

"I said I didn't believe it and he told me it was a guy called Adrian who she worked with. A little bald chap, I think he said. He said he'd got somebody else as well.'' Mr. Bentley added: "I inferred from the gist of the conversation that Liz wasn't very happy. He wanted my wife to talk to her because she was very upset. They were close.'' The next day, Bukhari called Mr. Bentley from the Incident Room telling the former Policeman that Ms Cadell had "gone and done it''.

During cross examination, Mr. Bentley said that after speaking to Bukhari on May 30 he understood that while Ms Cadell was upset, there was a chance the relationship would heal and the pair could become a couple again.

He added that he had spoken to Bukhari since Ms Cadell's death and they had exchanged letters since.

"So you would have no hesitation in speaking to him in the future?'' Mr.

Duncan asked.

"Not at this stage, no,'' Mr. Bentley replied.