Colleagues of Crown lawyer Larry Mussenden say he is set to sue Magistrate Ed King after he was held in Police custody following a court room bust-up on Thursday.

Mr. Mussenden refused to comment about whether he was going to take legal action against Mr. King for wrongful arrest.

But yesterday a colleague told The Royal Gazette that Mr. Mussenden was not about to let the matter drop.

And some sources have speculated that reports could reach as high as the Governor who has the power to sack or discipline Magistrates.

The source said: "Larry has had enormous support from the Bar and from the public. He even had one person who he prosecuted and who ended up in jail say that it was time somebody stood up to King.

"He is outraged at what has happened and said that it is wrong that he should end up in jail for doing his job.'' Mr. Mussenden spent time in Police custody after a flare-up with Mr. King on Thursday after the Magistrate dismissed a court case because witnesses had failed to turn up.

Supporters of Mr. Mussenden claimed Mr. King had ordered Police to slap cuffs on him while Mr. King said he merely told the Police to stop him leaving the court after he had been rude to the bench.

Court sources also claim that Mussenden spent more than two hours in Police custody -- not the 20 minutes previously reported.

The source said: "He spent 20 minutes at the Police station. He was then released into his own recognizance -- which is like being on bail only without the surety.

"A short time later Police asked him to go back to the station -- they must have been under the impression that Mr. King had ordered him to be arrested.

"After Mr. Mussenden failed to show up they sent a Policeman to make sure he was still there.

Mussenden set to sue King "At some point there was a flurry of phone calls at the highest level and the matter was sorted out. But Mr. Mussenden was technically in custody for well over two hours.'' The colleague said:"Larry will be submitting relevant reports to a number of authorities including the Bar Association.

"The court is a serious place and people expect high standards of integrity and advocates expect even higher standards.

"The prosecutors' creed is that prosecute without fear or favour and if it mean prosecutors going to jail then they will have to do that.'' It is thought that a report may be submitted to Governor Thorold Masefield who has the power to dismiss and discipline magistrates after he has consulted Chief Justice Austin Ward.