Cherie Booth ? a noted human rights lawyer who is undoubtedly better known as Mrs. Tony Blair ? is due to take the stand today in defence of Bermuda businessman Harold Darrell.

Mrs. Booth Blair is one of three noted lawyers on the Island this week from Britain to represent their respective parties in a Court of Appeal case entering its second day today.

While Mrs. Booth arrived in the upstairs courtroom yesterday morning via a non-public entryway, by afternoon she was already comfortable enough to come in and out of the building ? which also houses the House of Assembly ? the same way as everyone else.

This was despite a gaggle of onlookers ? including photographers from and overseas ? waiting eagerly for her arrival and departure.

Mrs. Booth Blair is accompanied by a protection unit made up of several armed officers from Scotland Yard, a security detail that arrived on the Island ahead of her Saturday night flight.

Officers from the Bermuda?s Emergency Response Team (ERT), the only Police unit locally allowed to carry firearms, is also understood to be involved in the security effort.

In an unusual twist, Mrs. Booth Blair?s security team appear to have been given permission to drive on the Island, yesterday driving her away from court in a black SUV.

Although there is a retinue of bodyguards at her disposal, Mrs. Booth Blair wasn?t shifting any extra weight on to the security detail.

Indeed, Mrs. Booth Blair arrived in court visibly weighed down by a scarlet satchel of court binders ? and, yes, she was carrying the load herself.

Presenting a subdued image in a cobalt blue button-up shirt and navy pant suit, Mrs. Booth Blair donned her wig and robes on arrival.

From the moment she walked into the court, she chatted easily with her peers ? and during proceedings was feisty in defence on points important to her client?s case.

This is no more than one would expect of one?s lawyer but the courtroom dynamic is made more interesting when one considers that Mrs. Booth Blair was in the late 1970s a pupil in the chambers of James Goodie, QC ? a lawyer defending one of the other parties in the case.

Although Mrs. Booth Blair?s visit to Bermuda has caused a stir ? at least two tourists were seen to poke their heads in the door of the court yesterday in search of a sighting, and some in court yesterday had to resign themselves to sitting on the floor after all seats filled up ? it was all business once the court settled into proceedings.

On several previous visits ? this is Mrs. Booth Blair?s fifth time in Bermuda ? stayed at Government House for a nominal fee, a move that drew fire in Britain from politicians and the media charging that taxpayers may be subsidising her private trips. A call to Deputy Governor Nick Carter last week ruled out her staying at Government House this time around. ?It has nothing to do with us,? he said.

This trip she is staying at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess ? a matter clearly on display yesterday as both Mrs. Booth Blair and her security detail nursed water bottles through the day bearing the distinctive black and gold logo of the Fairmont hotels.

It is understood that Mrs. Booth Blair is due to leave the Island tonight.