A trial at Supreme Court number one was put on hold temporarily yesterday as lawyers and Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves paid tribute to the late Richard Hector QC, who as previously reported in passed this week aged 74.

Lawyer Victoria Pearman said she had ?a crack in her chest? when she first heard the news. She added: ?Mr. Hector was such a giant in the community and a good man. He was a towering personality but he had the common touch and never became too big to help junior counsel. He will be really missed.?

Her colleague Charles Richardson said he had been inspired by Mr. Hector?s ability to ?cut through the nonsense? in trials. He said: ?I have gone to him for advice and he has always given me golden advice.?

Crown prosecution lawyer Anthony Blackman said that since arriving in Bermuda in 2001 he had struck up a friendship with Mr. Hector, he said: ?He was very dependable and would always help other counsel, whether they were the defence or the prosecution.

?I last spoke to him a week ago. It reminds us that we are here for a short time and that we should do the right thing and enjoy ourselves. On behalf of my colleagues and the Department of Public Prosecutions I hope his family can find strength at this time.?

Crown counsel Shakira Dill spoke of the time she had to prepare a case when she was to be up against Mr. Hector and was apprehensive having heard of his impressive reputation, she said: ?The next day I was so shocked by how humble he was. Even though he was a person who achieved greatness he was himself a great man.?

Mr. Justice Greaves said he and Mr. Hector had shared a love of cricket and said: ?He was every bit the man I would hope I will be able to match. He was the Senior Magistrate in Bermuda at one stage and I went through that.

?He gave me a lot of advice that I hold dearly. He was always warning to to be cautious when I needed to be and to be bold when I had to be bold. This jurisdiction will miss him. He will be difficult to replace.?

Mr. Justice Greaves said he believed the departed lawyer would be ?preparing a path? in a higher place for his colleagues to eventually join him, and added: ?He always had a smile and always found time for humour.?

The court observed a moment?s silence as a mark of respect for Mr. Hector before resuming its business of the day.