Cricketer Dean Minors' drug trial was postponed yesterday for a second time when it was aborted before it even began.

And for the second time in three months, a headlining trial has been pushed back because a juror's travel arrangements conflicted with the timing of the trial.

Yesterday's was the second major delay for the Minors trial - last week it was pushed back until today because his lead counsel, John Perry QC, was held up while doing a trial in England.

Minors, 32, of St. George's, is charged with importation and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. He was arrested at the Bermuda International Airport on January 1, 2001.

Yesterday the nine-woman, three-man jury barely had a chance to warm their seats after being sworn in when one of the jurors told Assistant Justice Archibald Warner he had planned a trip that might conflict with the trial.

The travelling juror said he made his plans believing that the trial would be completed by the end of January.

Prior to dismissing the remaining panel of jurors, a visibly frustrated Mr. Warner said: "We have found ourselves in an embarrassing situation - but we have found it out at an early stage, that's the good news.

"But obviously we cannot continue, we cannot force this juror to serve and we cannot continue with 11 jurors.

"The only way out is to abort the trial and start all over again tomorrow morning."

This is the second such case where Mr. Justice Warner has had to abort a trial because of jury travel plans.

The manslaughter trial of two Warwick men accused of unlawfully killing Jermaine Pitcher in January 2000, had been going on for six days before it had to be started from scratch because two jurors were scheduled to travel.

Jamal Robinson, 25, and Keniel Ingham, 29, were eventually sentenced to ten years and 12 years respectively for their part in the crime.

Mr. Justice Warner instructed the entire 36 member jury panel to return to Supreme Court this morning so a new jury can be picked.

The trial is expected to last close to two weeks, with the Crown calling at least 12 witnesses.

Appearing for the Crown are Vinette Graham Allen and Graveney Bannister, with Venous Telford appearing with Mr. Perry on behalf of Minors.