A woman has denied stealing more than $40,000 from the Gilbert Institute After School Programme, and drawing forged cheques on the school account.

Lee Brown, 49, of Fritholme, Paget, pleaded not guilty to two charges of theft when she appeared before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

She is accused of taking $30,893 from the programme between November 2003 and April 2005 and a further $12,034.92 between March 2004 and April 2005.

In addition, prosecutors claim she forged Bank of Bermuda cheques drawn on the Gilbert Institute After School Programme account on six occasions between March 2004 and March 2005 amounting to $6,090. She also pleaded not guilty to those charges.

No details were given during her appearance before Chief Justice Richard Ground at the monthly arraignments session. However, an earlier court hearing at Magistrates' Court was told Brown was a parent involved in administering the programme.

Chief Justice Richard Ground set her trial for June 17 and bailed her until that date.

Another defendant, Seirgio Drover Perinchief, pleaded guilty to wounding and firearms charges.

The 23-year-old, from Dudley Hill, Paget, denied causing grievous bodily harm to Matthew Sousa on October 10, 2007, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding.

Principal Crown counsel Michael McColm indicated that plea was acceptable to the Crown.

In addition, Perinchief admitted to possessing three prohibited weapons on the same date — an air rifle that was a replica AK47 assault rifle, a pipe slingshot and a commercially manufactured catapult.

The Chief Justice ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared and ordered Perinchief to return to court on June 2, bailing him until then.

In a separate matter, a man admitted to burgling a number of companies in and around Hamilton between January 15 and March 3 this year.

Warren Dean Conrad Mallory, 31, stole money from Entasis Architecture, the Wakefield Quin law firm, Armadillo Management, the Bersalon salon and spa and the offices of the Hamiltonian Hotel.

Mr. Justice Ground ordered a background report to be prepared on the defendant, of no fixed address, and suggested that he may wish to engage the services of a lawyer.

Meanwhile, he remanded him into custody until June 2 when a date for his sentencing will be arranged.

Additionally, Rashad Cooper, 25, denied wounding Shawn Nusum with intent on November 15 last year. The defendant, of Fenton's Drive, Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to a further charge of possessing a machete in Water Street, St. George's, on the same date.

No details of the alleged offence were given during the court hearing. Cooper was granted bail and will go on trial at the Supreme Court on June 30.

The court also heard that the case of Terrence Smith will be heard by Bermuda's ultimate court of appeal, the Privy Council in London, next month.

Smith had his conviction for defrauding the Bermuda Housing Corporation to the tune of $1.2 million overturned by the Court of Appeal earlier this year, and a retrial ordered.

However, he is arguing that he should not have to undergo a retrial, and that appeal will be heard by the Privy Council on May 8.

The case will come back before the Chief Justice following that on June 2. Meanwhile, although Mr. Justice Ground offered to consider bailing Smith, his lawyer Patricia Harvey declined the opportunity, but offered no explanation why.

Smith has been in Westgate since he was remanded there after his conviction in March 2006. He was sentenced to eight years in May 2006.

Another high-profile case, that of Andrina Smith, was listed for sentence on May 16.

Smith was convicted last month of the manslaughter of her boyfriend, Edward (Sleepy) Dill.

Speaking after the case, however, her lawyer Charles Richardson said he has filed an appeal.