prosecuting lawyer a "coward'' during a heated courtroom exchange on Thursday.

But he denied claims made by court sources that he ordered Crown counsel Larry Mussenden to be taken from Magistrates' Court to Hamilton Police Station in handcuffs.

Mr. Mussenden went to the Police Station accompanied by an officer and spent 20 minutes there following the flare-up with Mr. King. He was not in handcuffs and no charges were filed.

Court sources told The Royal Gazette Mr. Mussenden went to the station accompanied by a Police officer because he was under the impression it was an order of the court after Mr. King allegedly ordered him to be taken there in handcuffs.

Bermuda Bar Association President Richard Hector said yesterday he anticipated the Association would discuss the incident.

Mr. Hector said the Association was interested in the events and that he expected members would shortly submit reports on the incident to him soon so the matter could be discussed.

Mr. King told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "Yes, I accused him of being a coward.'' He declined to reveal the reasons for the accusation.

He added: "I did not tell anyone to take Mr. Mussenden in handcuffs. I told them (the Police) to stop him going outside and no one touched him. He pushed out the door and walked past, that's it.'' The confrontation took place on Thursday morning after Mr. King dismissed an unlawful house entering and assault case brought by Mr. Mussenden because witnesses failed to turn up.

Mr. King is said to have reeled off a number of other cases he dismissed because of the failure of witnesses to turn up. According to a court source, when Mr. Mussenden argued that the case should be adjourned, Mr. King told him to "shut up and sit down, otherwise he knew where he would be going''.

Mr. Mussenden is reported to have said: "That's fine. I'm prepared to go,'' and added that he was holding back from saying what he really wanted to.

In the course of the exchange, Mr. King called him a coward. He decided the lawyer was being "rude'' to the bench and ordered Police officers to prevent him from leaving the court.

Legal insiders said tension had been brewing in the court for several days and that earlier in the week Mr. King had made "insensitive'' remarks to Mr.

Mussenden.

The court source said Mr. Mussenden packed up his files and walked to the door and Mr. King ordered him to remain in the court.

The source stated that Mr. Mussenden said: "I am going back to my office or to the Police station if that's where you want to send me''. At which point Mr. King allegedly shouted: "Put the handcuffs on him and take him to the Police station.'' King controversy Mr. Hector said yesterday: "It is a matter of interest to us because it concerns members of the Bar and the bench, so it is of importance to us.

"We are looking at the situation, but we haven't had any official report to us yet so we cannot comment.

"We have read newspaper reports and there are different versions so we don't know the facts. But I would expect we will be receiving reports from members shortly.'' He explained that the Bar Council, which represents more than 300 lawyers on the Island, would discuss matters if they were raised by Association members or members of the public.