Two women charged with stealing from their employers were among those appearing in a busy arraignments session in Supreme Court yesterday.

Maureen Rose Marie Trott, 50, of St. David's admitted that between 1989 and 1996, she stole more than $400,000 from the Bank of Butterfield. Defence lawyer Llewelyn Peniston asked Chief Justice Austin Ward to extend her bail conditions as she was "energetically" paying back the amount.

However, Mr. Justice Ward denied the request, remanding Trott in custody. Before sentencing, a social inquiry report will be conducted.

Doylette Love-Ann Duclos, 29, of Hamilton parish pleaded not guilty to 44 counts of stealing and forgery. Duclos denied stealing almost $60,000 from Overseas Partners Ltd. The mother of two had her bail extended and will appear for mention again on June 3.

Thirty-year-old Warwick man Ross Noel Parsons pleaded guilty to robbing a visiting Canadian on January 26.

Parsons attacked the Canadian visitor on Court Street while he was sitting on a moped, getting away with the man's jewellery, valued at $1,392.

Defence lawyer Larry Mussenden requested a social inquiry report for Parsons who will return to court on June 3 for sentencing.

Two Jamaican men accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the Island between February 1 and February 8 this year entered not guilty pleas.

Ewart Leslie Patten, 38, and Barrington Morace Gardener, 44, both of St. Ann's parish, also denied importing cocaine on February 8. Both were remanded in custody.

Justis Raham Smith, 23, of Deepdale West, Pembroke pleaded not guilty to to intending to wound Shawnee Outerbridge on February 2.

Smith also denied causing bodily harm to another young woman, Hanifah Taalibdin and carrying an offensive weapon (a knife) on the same date. The charges stem from an incident which took place after a party at a Dockyard nightclub. Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo asked that the matter be set down for mention on June 3.

Defence lawyer Larry Mussenden requested that West African Yaloo Celtius Mitchai be allowed to delay entering his plea for importing and possession of heroin as Mr. Mussenden had received last minute correspondence vital to the case.

The 23-year-old man, who speaks little English, was apprehended at Bermuda International Airport on March 2. Chief Justice Austin Ward granted Mr. Mussenden's request and his plea will be entered on June 3. Mitchai was remanded in custody.