A man accused of murdering 26-year-old Ruth Binns has pleaded not guilty.

Arnold Shawn Astwood, 36, spoke only to enter his plea during a brief appearance at the monthly Supreme Court arraignments session yesterday.

Prosecutors allege he murdered Ms Binns — also known as Ruth Dill — on or about September 25, 2007. She was found dead by her sister in her apartment at Camp Hill Road, Southampton, on that date.

Chief Justice Richard Ground heard from Principal Crown Counsel Michael McColm that an August trial for Astwood would suit the prosecution.

However, defence lawyer Charles Richardson asked for the matter to be adjourned to the next arraignments session on July 1, when a date will be fixed.

Mr. Justice Ground remanded the defendant, of Green Acres Road, Devonshire, back into custody until then.

In a separate case of alleged murder, a retrial was set for Andre Hypolite. He had his conviction for stabbing Nicholas Dill to death on Boxing Day 2004 quashed by the Court of Appeal last November. The three judges who heard the appeal heard allegations that the accused did not have a fair trial, and ordered him to be tried again.

The fresh hearing of the matter will begin on September 8, with defence lawyer Llewellyn Peniston telling the court that top English Queen's Counsel John Perry will represent Hypolite. The Chief Justice remanded the defendant into custody until that date.

However, another defendant facing retrial on high profile charges — alleged Bermuda Housing Corporation fraudster Terrence Smith — has taken up the Chief Justice's offer of bail.

Smith saw his conviction for defrauding the BHC to the tune of $1.2 million overturned by the Court of Appeal last November after the panel of three judges heard arguments that he did not receive a fair trial.

He lost a subsequent appeal on May 8 this year to the Privy Council, Bermuda's highest court, against the judges' ruling that he should be re-tried.

Smith had been in Westgate since being remanded there upon conviction in March 2006. He was sentenced to eight years in May 2006. Although Mr. Justice Ground twice offered Smith bail after the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction, his lawyer Patricia Harvey turned down the offer without specifying reasons in court.

Yesterday, however, Smith walked out of Supreme Court a free man, having apparently opted to take up the Chief Justice's offer of bail at some point since the Privy Council hearing.

Ms Harvey told the court she is hoping to engage the services of a top lawyer from overseas for the retrial and the Chief Justice adjourned the matter until July 1 for a date to be set.

In another matter, 27-year-old Chris Winslow Ray admitted to six burglaries at commercial premises in and around the Washington Mall in the City of Hamilton and one at a private residence.

He burgled Design Source and Current to Current on February 22, Bermuda Music Centre the following day — taking $260 cash — and Jazzy Boutique between February 23 and 25, stealing $100 cash.

Ray also targeted Sound Stage and House of Flowers between the same dates, stealing $135 cash from Sound Stage in the process. He burgled a home in Rose Gardens, Warwick, on February 25 and stole a bag, DVD camera and personal items.

The Chief Justice ordered pre-sentence reports, and will set a date for sentencing on July 1.

Another defendant, Mario Pascoe of Cottage Hill Road, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to wounding Robert Fabian and causing grievous bodily harm in September 2006.

A pre-sentence report was ordered, and Pascoe was remanded into custody until July 1.