Efforts to find a jury to hear the trial of three men accused of drug and gun charges were frustrated yesterday, when the Supreme Court ran out of candidates.

A total of 57 people turned up for jury selection in the case of Justin Calderon, Arthur Dill and Kershun Dublin. The trio stands accused of conspiring to possess four revolvers and 170 bullets, and conspiring to import cannabis.

However, so many of the potential jurors professed to have prejudicial links to the defendants and their families or were rejected by lawyers that the list was exhausted. At the end of yesterday's proceedings, there was still one spot left on the 11-strong panel that will have to be filled this morning.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves ordered that a handful of potential jurors who failed to show up yesterday must come to court. It is hoped this will allow the jury to be completed, and the case to get underway. Otherwise, further measures to locate additional jurors might have to be put into place.

In extreme circumstances, the law allows a jury officer to pull candidates in off the streets, although it is hoped that less drastic measures will suffice in the current case.

The potential jurors were told by prosecutor Robert Welling yesterday that the trial is due to hear evidence from Police and Customs officers as well as employees of the DHL mailing company. It is expected to last between two and three weeks.

Calderon, aged 25, of Mission Lane, Pembroke, Dill, aged 45, of Orchard Grove, Pembroke, and Dublin, 25, of North Shore Road, Pembroke, deny the charges.