A Pembroke man denied murdering 47-year-old Harry Palmer during the monthly arraignments session in Supreme Court yesterday.

Voorhees Trott of Two-Way Lane, Deepdale, Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to the homeless man's murder which occurred between June 2 and June 9.

Mr. Palmer died in hospital on June 9, six days after he was found lying unconscious on a Hamilton street.

While Trott, 42, was arrested in early June, his appearance before Chief Justice Austin Ward yesterday marked his first opportunity to plea to the charge against him.

He appeared without legal representation which prompted defence attorney Elizabeth Christopher - appearing on other matters - to object to the legal proceedings.

"I have issues with Mr. Trott entering a plea without legal representation," Ms Christophers said.

"Unless you are representing the accused you have nothing to say," Mr. Ward replied.

Mr. Ward recorded the plea and put Trott down for mention in December while remanding him to custody.

Trott's charge was among ten new matters heard in the monthly session.

A 33-year-old Sandys man denied charges of serious sexual assault and assault causing grievous bodily harm related to an incident on March 12. The matter was also set down for mention in December.

Rudell Valentin Pitcher pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of housebreaking, forgery, stealing and uttering false documents stemming from a June 14 to 20 crime spree and Kawesi Simba Wilson pleaded not guilty to three charges of knowingly receiving stolen goods related to the same events.

Pitcher and Wilson were also set for mention in December.

Eugene Shirley Ming pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding with intent to disfigure another man on December 28, 2001 and trespassing. Ming is to appear again for mention in December.

Canadian Anna Formachuck denied charges of importing cocaine to Bermuda and possession of cocaine with intent to supply on July 5.

Formachuck was given a warrant date of November 18 in order to set a date for trial.

Tamika Lashawn Ross and Shannon Phoenix were jointly charged with importation of cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply on July 8 of this year.

Both women pleaded not guilty to the charges and are to reappear for mention in December.

Michelle Soares Cabral pleaded not guilty to two charges - stealing $4,000 from the Bank of NT Butterfield and making a document with intent to defraud.

Cabral is to re-appear for mention in December.

Keeman Fitzgerald Grant entered not guilty pleas yesterday to charges of assault with intent to rob and robbery on July 3.

His matter was set for mention in December.

Fitzgerald Glen Richardson must also appear for mention in December after denying charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of a machete related to an incident on August 26.

Anthony Webster Swan refused to enter a plea to charges of burglary related to an April 22 breaking and entering where a $70 watch and $60 in cash was stolen.

While refusing to answer charges Swan claimed he was a "political prisoner" and that the Chief Justice "should be ashamed of himself".

Mr. Ward said he would enter a plea of not guilty for Swan, who appeared without representation. "You should be ashamed of yourself for coming up here every time," he quipped.

Nineteen outstanding matters were also mentioned yesterday.

The oldest matter of the day related to a sexual assault which allegedly occurred in September 15, 1994.

A 63-year-old Warwick man entered a plea of not guilty to the charge yesterday after having been cleared as fit for trial by St. Brendan's Hospital.

The matter was set down for mention again next month.

A re-trial date has been set for Keniel Alfred Ingham in relation to the 2000 killing of Jermaine (Red) Pitcher.

An Appeals court decision overturned his conviction on manslaughter charges earlier this year.

Ingham is to be retried on February 4, 2003.

The three men accused of the Lagoon Park murder of American Stanley Lee last year - Terranz Sidney Smith, James Alan Dill and Robert Blair Tucker - were set for trial on March 4, 2003 but yesterday the court was informed that defence attorney Mark Pettingill had withdrawn from Tucker's defence.

Mr. Ward advised Tucker to find another attorney and put the matter down for mention in December.

Also appearing without representation yesterday were Amenemhat Waset Aen-Ra Tamerry and Maatkai Hatsheput Tamerry (Dr. and Mrs. Clark Godwin) who have denied manslaughter charges in relation to the death of their daughter last year.

The court was informed yesterday that attorney Saul Froomkin has withdrawn from the case.

Mr. Ward advised the Tamerrys to hire another lawyer and re-appear for mention in December.

And a trial date was set yesterday for the man accused of stabbing CedarBridge Academy security guard Kariim Wales in March of this year.

Seventeen-year-old Jahmel Eugene Mallory is to be tried on February 10, 2002.