behaviour in court and said there were no older role-models.

Wayne Caines, who is awaiting his `call to the bar', was blasted when he called Mr. King's decision "clearly unfair''.

The incident occurred when Mr. Caines, holding for Crown counsel Graveney Bannister, who was in a Supreme Court matter, requested an adjournment for the prosecution of a sex assault case.

Mr. Bannister sent a letter requesting an adjournment to Mark Pettingill and Mr. King on Wednesday.

But earlier in the week, Mr. King blasted lawyers for giving priority to Supreme Court cases and thereby dragging out Magistrates' Court obligations.

He said: "It's fallacy to believe the Supreme Court takes precedent. The Magistrates' Court feeds the Supreme Court.

"If you plug up the Magistrates' Court, the Supreme Court must grind to a halt,'' he added.

He criticised lawyers for not giving enough notice to the courts and each other, when requesting adjournments.

"If I set down this case, there will be no adjournments for the Crown,'' said Mr. King.

Mr. Caines stood up and said: "It's clearly unfair...'' but was cut off by Mr. King who said: "Don't start Mr. Caines.'' Previously, defence counsel Mark Pettingill was awarded two adjournments at the objection of Mr. Bannister.

Mr. King said there was a time when lawyers such as Dame Lois Browne-Evans and Richard Hector would frequent Magistrates' Court and the younger lawyers would follow their example.

"Now, it's open market for everyone to come and behave how he thinks is good,'' said Mr. King. "The position is the Crown must always be ready to proceed,'' he added.

The trial was postponed until June 1 at 9.30 in the morning, approximately a half-hour before Plea Court.