Court trial yesterday stranded at Newark Airport.

Dr. Ralph Helmrich, a chemical engineer, is expected to appear in court today to give evidence at the trial of David Anthony Brangman.

Brangman, 31, denies assaulting two Police officers with Chemical Shield gas outside Lines Grocery in Warwick on June 11 1992.

He has also denied charges of importing and possession of the illegal weapon, offensive behaviour and resisting arrest.

Yesterday the mother of the accused man told the court that her son, the former owner of a candy store on Middle Road, was the subject of Police harassment.

Constance Smith said Police visited the Middle Road store weekly following up complaints that her son sold drugs from the premises.

She said the visits drove them to make a complaint to Police Commissioner Mr.

Lennett (Lennie) Edwards. After meeting with Mr. Edwards, the complaints stopped.

But Crown Counsel Mr. Khamisi Tokumbo reminded Smith that Police have to follow up complaints.

He asked her if the alleged harassment was connected to the events on June 11 when Brangman allegedly sprayed officers P.c. James Walters and P.c. James Outerbridge with CS gas as they attempted to arrest him.

Smith replied: "Absolutely.'' Walters and Outerbridge have both denied ever meeting Brangman before the incident.

Mr. Tokumbo asked Smith if she knew Brangman had suffered injuries during the incident.

She replied she did not remember Brangman telling her of any.

Brangman claimed he was held and beaten with a stick by the officers on the legs and ribs.

Brangman's long-time friend, Thyra Durham, also testified for the defence yesterday.

Durham claimed she heard Brangman being beaten by a Police officer over the telephone. Brangman, who was using a public telephone, left the phone off the hook, she said.