A man threatened to kill Magistrate Edward King, punched a Magistrates' Court computer sending it flying through the air and sent Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley scurrying for cover yesterday.

Vance Ratteray -- who later tried to lunge at a Royal Gazette photographer outside Magistrates' Court -- threatened Mr. King after he was told he was going to be remanded in custody.

Ratteray, 41, failed to appear in court on Wednesday. It was the third time this year he had failed to answer charges of theft, assault and violently resisting arrest.

Ratteray, of Cottage Hill Road, Hamilton Parish, claimed he got the dates mixed up.

"You were to appear here when?'' asked Mr. King. "Fifteen months ago. You have to face the music.'' "You locked me up twice for this same case,'' responded Ratteray.

"It is because you failed to show,'' said Mr. King. "If I have to lock my mother up I will.'' "Then lock your mother up not me,'' said Ratteray.

"If I have to lock you up 100 times, I will, ''said Mr. King.

`The magistrate then said "I remand you in custody for...'' Ratteray, who was advancing from the dock, lunged forward and punched the court computer causing it to fly through the air before it came to rest below the partition dividing the Magistrate from the court.

Two Policemen rushed to the aid of Mr. King who stood up from his seat.

Ratteray, who was now leaning over the prosecutor's desk, pointed in Mr.

King's direction and said: "I am going to kill you.'' "Arrest him, take him away!'' said Mr. King, as the officers scrambled to handcuff Ratteray.

"Bring him back at 2.30 p.m. Someone else will have to deal with him because every time he comes in here he creates a ruckus,'' said Mr. King.

Ratteray is charged with stealing a pair of shoes from Wayne O'Brien at the Royal Bermuda Yatch Club, Hamilton on Sunday June 20. He is also charged with common assault, and violently resisting arrest arising out of the same matter.

Since December 17, 1998 he was to appear in court for using offensive words in Smith's Parish but for 15 months he managed to elude the court system.

Ratteray was brought back to court at 2.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon but he again became vociferous and refused to remain quiet while the charges were read.

Senior Magistrate William Francis ordered Ratteray to be quiet. Instead Ratteray demanded to say something. In an expletive-filled outburst, he said was tired of coming to court for the same offence.

"Take him away, I will deal with him tomorrow morning,'' said Mr. Francis.

Ratteray was arrested by two officers and escorted quickly by foot to the Hamilton Police Station.