The Supreme Court trial of a Hamilton Parish pair accused of importing $500,000 worth of heroin finally got underway yesterday after more than a week of legal arguments.

The two, Shadonna Kelly Trott, 20, and Tyrone Calvin Simmons, 27, of Cottage Hill are accused of importing heroin concealed in three oversized greeting cards three years ago. Both deny the charges.

Yesterday postmistress Effie Ratteray was grilled by defence lawyers Delroy Duncan and Victoria Pearman.

Ms Pearman represented Simmons, while Mr. Duncan represented Trott.

Mr. Duncan's interrogation of Ms Ratteray centred around her exact recollection of what happened when an attempt was made to pick up a package addressed to Trott -- and her previous testimony to the court.

In response to a series of questions from Mr. Duncan, differing versions of a telephone conversation between Ms Ratteray and someone identifying herself as Trott, emerged.

During questioning the lawyers inferred that Ms Ratteray had no way of verifying whether the two people she dealt with, were in fact the two accused.

"And you said `I have a young man who is your brother and I have a package for you and your brother'. Is that correct ?''asked Mr. Duncan.

"Yes,'' replied Ms Ratteray.

"And the person said who `sent the package?' and you wouldn't answer. Is that correct?'' Ms. Ratteray then said that she thought that she had told the caller where the package was coming from.

But Mr. Duncan persisted : "I am suggesting she asked you who sent the package and you never answered. Is that correct ?'' "No.'' Ms. Ratteray then denied Mr. Duncan's further suggestion that the caller had offered to come down and collect the package herself and had not authorised the release of the package.

The Court heard during the questioning that Police Officer Roseanda Jones had given Ms. Ratteray specific instructions to hand the package to the addressee.

After establishing Post Office procedure with regard to handling registered mail and postal notices, Mr. Duncan then put it to the witness that she had released the package without authorisation and had acted contrary to Post Office rules.

"You have said at the time you were nervous. And you released the package without authorisation and contrary to instructions given by Roseanda Jones?'' "Yes,'' replied the witness.

Forensic expert Kevin Leask, who analysed the packages when they arrived on the Island in mid-March 1998, was then questioned by prosecutor Charlene Scott.

Mr. Leask testified that he analysed samples concealed in three packages and found them to be diamorphine.

The trial will resume this morning.