claims that a deal had been struck between a defence lawyer and the Police.

Reid H. Jones, 24, of Manchester Street, Sandys Parish, and Randolph G.

Lightbourne, 31, of Devon Springs, Devonshire, appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday afternoon following a no-show in the morning.

Lightbourne was kept separate from Jones as they sat in the court room which was packed with plain clothed and uniformed Police officers.

Crown Counsel Khamisi Tokunbo was on hand for the Attorney General's Chambers and Jones was represented by lawyer Mark Pettingill.

When asked if he was represented, Lightbourne replied: "Yeah, Archie Warner is my lawyer. I don't know where he is.'' However Senior Magistrate William Francis went ahead with the matter.

He told the pair that they were not required to enter pleas as the charges were indictable so they would be sent to the Supreme Court.

They were charged with using a firearm to rob the Bank of Butterfield of a bank bag containing $70,000 in cash while concerned together on July 8 in Sandys Parish.

Lightbourne was charged with four additional offences including using a firearm to commit an indictable offence, possessing a firearm and attempting to do grievous bodily harm to Clayton Simmons and Randolph Spencer and unlawfully wounding them at the same time and place.

Mr. Pettingill said he intended to make a thorough application for bail on behalf of Jones and Mr. Francis set that matter down to be heard on July 16.

Lightbourne was set to return with Jones for mention on July 24 and Mr.

Francis told him that if Mr. Warner wished to make any applications on his behalf, "he knows what to do''.

At that point, Mr. Warner and lawyer Victoria Pearman entered the courtroom.

Mr. Francis told Mr. Warner that he had read the charges to both men, prompting a tongue lashing from the defence attorney.

Mr. Warner said Mr. Francis knew he had been at the court that morning and he felt the way the matter had been dealt with that afternoon was in "complete disregard of my client's rights''.

"I was here at 10 a.m., having been assured by the Police that my client would be appearing then,'' he said.

Lightbourne never materialised so he went back to his office, continued Mr.

Warner, and at 11.15 a.m. he received a telephone call from Ch. Insp. Carlton Adams who apologised for not telling him that his client would not be in court then.

He had been waiting since then to hear what was happening, he said.

This treatment was "discourteous'' to his client and "demonstrates the way the Bermuda Police treats citizens'', he said.

"They trample on their rights. My client has the right to be represented. I would like to have the charges read again.'' Mr. Francis obliged the request and repeated the charges.

Mr. Warner said he was "glad to see'' that Jones was charged with a firearms offence.

"I had heard there was a deal between the Police and counsel that Jones would not be charged with any firearm offences,'' he said.

Mr. Francis said he did not want to hear about that and remanded both men in custody until July 24 while noting Jones would be coming forward for a bail application hearing on July 16.

The two men were put in separate unmarked Police cars and rushed away from the court immediately afterward.

Two masked and armed robbers entered a side door at the Somerset branch of the Bank of Butterfield at about 10.15 a.m. on July 8.

Two bank security officers were making a cash delivery at the time and they, plus a third officer who went to their assistance, were assaulted by the intruders who incapacitated the guards and fled with a bag of cash.

They were forced to flee on foot when their getaway bike would not start.

Two other people have been questioned in connection with the robbery. It is not known when or if they will appear in court.