The terror that struck the air travel industry last week has left ripple effects that reach all the way to the Bermuda courts.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court trial of a New Jersey man on drug importation charges was delayed after defence attorney Victoria Pearman asked for time to regroup following a series of delays in her return to Bermuda.

The trial of Keith Falconer, 30, of Livingstone, New Jersey was slated to begin, on four drug related charges.

But Ms Pearman told Assistant Justice Archibald Warner that she had only arrived on the Island late last night after travelling since Saturday.

Ms Pearman asked for a delay of one day "to allow counsel the opportunity to gather herself and get back to reality."

"The court is aware of the world wide situation regarding the emergency and the difficulties in travelling," Assistant Justice Archibald Warner said. "However, we must try to balance as best we can. We have a jury here poised for service, we don't want to delay them."

The selection of the jury was not to be as a legal argument began before Mr. Justice Warner. The panel was eventually dismissed until Friday morning.