Although yesterday's Supreme Court arraignments were dominated by drug importation charges, the Chief Justice dealt with several locals who appeared for serious assault charges, including murder.

Quincy Stanley Brangman of Cook's Hill, Sandys Parish and Everett Jahnai Bean, 19, of Jones' Village, Warwick, pleaded not guilty to murdering Tekle Mallory outside of the Ice Queen Restaurant in Paget on July 21.

Brangman 23, was also charged with two other counts - grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife on July 21.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The pair were remanded in custody to reappear on February 1.

Supreme Court One was packed with members of the accused and Mallory's families.

A 35-year-old Sandys Parish man charged with sexually assaulting and sexually exploiting a child between August 1, and November 1, 2000, changed his not guilty plea to guilty yesterday.

Mr. Justice Ward remanded the man in custody until his sentencing on January 14.

Burnell Howard Wentworth Cross, 58, of Scott's Hill Road, Sandys Parish, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and causing grievous bodily harm to Police Officer Terry-Lynn Williams on September 26.

Cricket star and schoolteacher, Dean Minors, 31, who was supposed to appear in Supreme Court yesterday, was a no show with his lawyer Venous Telford telling Mr. Justice Ward that there was a mix-up in why he did not appear.

Ms Telford explained that Minors assumed that because his trial date had been set for January 21, he did not have to appear during the monthly arraignment session.

Minors denies importing cannabis on New Year's Day 2001. Minors has filed a routine writ to have noted British defence lawyer John Perry QC act as leading lawyer in his case.

Meanwhile Damon Kono Mikki Rabain, 28, of Club Road, Smith's Parish will stand trial on March 4, for several counts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana possession and handling.

And it appears that Keenan Anthony Tucker, 28, of Bob's Valley Sandys and Keeman Fitzgerald Grant will be retried for assault charges stemming from August 19, last year.

They were tried for the offence in November, but the case was declared a mistrial after the victim gave testimony that could have potentially prejudiced the jury. The case was warned for trial on February 18.