Shabazz, 45, denies charges of stealing and fraudulent false accounting in early October 1990 while he was employed at the Bank of Bermuda. It was alleged he stole $43,000.

Mr. Archie Warner told Supreme Court, "I find myself in the embarrassing situation that I can't reasonably be expected to serve as counsel because I have not been properly instructed.'' It was not the fault of defence counsel, he added.

Shabazz indicated to Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Meerabux that he was currently unable to afford a lawyer.

"I have just finished an appeal at a very high expense, and the situation caused a lot of publicity,'' he told the court.

"My past situation, which ended two weeks ago, has rendered me unable to properly instruct a lawyer.'' He asked Mr. Justice Meerabux for more time.

But Crown Counsel Mr. Stephen Harrison said he was ready to proceed with the case against Shabazz.

The trial had been adjourned last May and again in November, he pointed out.

It was now the "oldest matter on the Crown's calendar'', he said. And jurors and witnesses were all present in court in anticipation of a trial.

However, Mr. Justice Meerabux decided that "in the interest of justice and to protect the accused's constitutional rights'', he would adjourn the matter to May 2 for further mention.

On March 5, the Court of Appeal quashed a theft conviction of the 45-year-old banker last year, saying the Bank of Bermuda did not tell him what to do with a $310,000 loan he received in 1988, therefore he could not be guilty of theft.