A Honduran cruise ship worker will stand trial in Magistrates' Court this morning after being accused of attacking a co-worker with a bottle.

Wilder Wandeque Lopez, 22, of Puerto Cortes in the Honduras, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of unlawful assault and causing bodily harm to a female co-worker. It is alleged that the co-worker received injuries to her face as a result of the assault.

No one from the cruise ship Zenith, where Lopez works, was present in the courtroom yesterday, leaving Senior Magistrate Archie Warner uncomfortable with the proceedings.

Questioning if the cruise ships have mechanisms in place to deal with such matters, he said Magistrates' Court does not have the facilities to deal with such issues within the time constraints, particularly if an interpreter is needed. The Zenith sails from Bermuda tomorrow, with both defendant and complainant expected to be on board.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said there was no indication why the matter was not dealt with on board, but pointed out the defendant was interviewed in English, and that the Crown was prepared to go ahead with his trial today, along with an interpreter.

The matter was set down for today at 9 a.m. in Magistrates' Court.