The trial of two men accused of illegally importing 100 gaming machines aboard a casino ship heard that a computer seized from the vessel appeared to control such devices.

Fermin Alfonso Reyes, 29, the Panamanian captain of the Niobe Corinthian, and George Kezas> 72, said by prosecutors to be the ship's managing director, deny the charge.

The Magistrates' Court trial, which has been heard in several sessions since last October, has heard how Police raided the Niobe CorinthiaI>and seized 100 gaming machines while it was moored at Marginal Wharf, St. David's, on August 11 last year. Reyes was arrested that day. Two days later, Police executed a search warrant at Kezas' home in Lily Park Lane, St. George, where he was arrested.

In evidence yesterday, Police Constable Laurence Fox of the Police Information Management Services Department said he examined computer equipment from the vessel the day after it was seized.

P.c. Fox, who specialises in crimes involving electronic devices, said one computer hard-drive had a main application appearing to control gambling machines via network cables and software.

He said this apparently logged values on cards that could be used for gambling. An Excel spreadsheet, he said, indicated that at one point 96 machines had been connected to this computer.

Later in his evidence, he said that although there were spreadsheets noting players' names, they all dated from 2005 or earlier.

Going on to describe a gaming machine from the ship, he said it had a card reader and was made by Absolute Amusements. P.c. Fox said the games listed on the front included pontoon, blackjack and poker and that during a previous investigation involving gaming machines in Bermuda "I was made aware that machines made by this specific company are illegal in many states in the USA including Nevada."

His explanation of why was interrupted by an objection from Elizabeth Christopher, lawyer for Reyes.

Det. Con. Fox said that although it appeared the computer apparently used to control gambling machines could be connected to those seized by the Police, he was not present at the time of the raid and never saw them connected.

Earlier in the day's proceedings, lawyer Kevin Bean, representing Kezas, complained about what he described as the expense and inconvenience a defence witness had been put through because of the Crown's conduct.

He said his client's wife, Joya Kezas, had flown back to Bermuda from abroad where she had been receiving medical treatment and tending to her sick father in order to be present at a scheduled December 2006 hearing.

However, complained Mr. Bean, notice from the office of the DPP only came through via fax 30 minutes before the court date - meaning her journey was rendered unnecessary.

He asked Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo to "send a strong message to the Crown with regard to this behaviour, and have this case dismissed as a consequence."

Mr. Bean complained that the situation could easily have been avoided, and went on to ask for costs to be considered in favour of the defence.

The court has previously heard how Reyes' wife gave birth to their first child on the day he was arrested. Reyes also had to be present for the cancelled hearing, said Mr. Bean, and came back from abroad where he was visiting his newborn.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said the cancellation of what had only been a "tentative" date was necessary because he had a case in Supreme Court. He said a fellow Crown Counsel had contacted Ms Christopher with advance notice of this, but "an oversight" mean Mr. Bean was not notified until 30 minutes before the hearing was due to start.

Mr. Tokunbo did not throw the case out, but told Mr. Bean he would consider the matter of costs at the end of the trial.

With both defendants on bail, the case is set to continue today.