The sentencing of the third man convicted in the stabbing death of Jermaine (Red) Pitcher was delayed yesterday due to an absentee defence attorney.

Jamal (Knolly) Robinson was to be sentenced yesterday for killing Mr. Pitcher in February, 2000, with Ryan (Tiger) Ball and Keniel Ingham.

Ball and Ingham received sentences of 10 and 12 years respectively for their parts in Mr. Pitcher's death.

Attorney Mark Pettingill was to represent Robinson in Supreme Court yesterday but The Royal Gazette understands he is Barbados playing in a field hockey tournament.

Assistant Justice Archibald Warner had strong words for Mr. Pettingill's colleague Richard Horseman - who stood in for the hooky hockey player to ask the court for an adjournment.

"Somebody is wasting the court's time," said Justice Mr. Warner. "This is a pile of foolishness."

Robinson, 25, changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter in Mr. Pitcher's death on October 11 after a joint trial for both he and Keniel Ingham was aborted.

His defence attorney at the time, Victoria Pearman, withdrew from his case at that time because she disagreed with the decision to plead guilty.

Mr. Justice Warner then delayed Robinson's sentencing in order that he obtain new counsel.

Yesterday, Mr. Horseman said that the date for the sentencing was set before Mr. Pettingill came on record for the case and requested an adjournment until his return.

"Do you think it's reasonable to come here and say he doesn't have legal counsel because Mr. Pettingill is not here and you don't know anything about the case," asked Mr. Justice Warner.

And he said Mr. Pettingill's firm had behaved in "contemptuous fashion" by writing the Supreme Court for an adjournment only one day before the sentencing.

"This foolishness is unacceptable and must stop," he said.

"I find myself in an embarrassing position," said Mr. Horseman.

However, Prosecutor Dorien Taylor said that he did not object to delaying the sentencing until Mr. Pettingill returned.

"This may be a comedy of errors because Robinson finds himself abandoned by one counsel (on October 11) only to be deserted by another," said Mr. Taylor.

"Justice should be swift, but I respectfully ask (my Lord) to show some compassion. I personally won't press that the sentencing continue today."

Justice Mr. Warner set a new date of November 22 for the sentencing.