appeared amid tight security in a special Magistrates' Court session yesterday.

A large number of Police officers were present due to fears that possible protests might be staged outside the court.

The trio were ushered in a back door while officials locked the building to prevent crowds jamming the room.

A planned protest by taxi drivers inside the court did not materialise after most of the cabbies were locked out.

However, relatives of the victim and some drivers did make it into the courtroom, while dozens of people, including the victim, waited outside the building.

Ricardo Alexander Denbrook, 21, Howard Austin Sinclair Mello, 21, and Andrew Leroy Hayward, 20, all of North Shore, Pembroke, were formally charged with robbery, grievous bodily harm and taking away a motor car on June 9.

A bail application was made by lawyer Venous Telford on behalf of Denbrook, which was refused.

The remaining two were not represented in court and all three were remanded in custody until their next appearance on July 4.

Up to a dozen Police officers stood by in court whilst the short hearing took place before Acting Senior Magistrate Ed King. At around 10.30 a.m. the suspects left the courtroom through the back offices to a waiting crowd composed of emotional family members and angry taxi drivers.

Shouts of "Jesus will be your judge'' came from a few angry family members.

Attempts by the media to get pictures of the three accused were obstructed by Police officers who formed a human shield around the men.

Photographers were ordered off the court precincts but were still prevented from taking clear pictures because of the number of officers surrounding the men.

Mr. Zuill, 68, was beaten and robbed after he picked up three men at the Tio Pepe restaurant on South Shore on June 9. He was asked to drive them to Burnt House Hill and was found bleeding by the side of the road after the attack, in which he was kicked and punched. He suffered cuts and bruises to the face.

The attackers drove off in his taxi.