Terrence Smith's lawyers have asked to comb through the infamous Bermuda Housing Corporation Police dossier – and were set to get their hands on it yesterday.

Smith is due to stand trial on November 3 on allegations of defrauding the BHC, and will be represented by top lawyer Sir Richard Cheltenham QC from Barbados.

His Bermuda-based lawyer Llewellyn Peniston revealed last week in Supreme Court that he and Sir Richard want disclosure of the Police files.

"The infamous Police files into the housing corruption matter that were hotly contested – my learned friend (prosecutor Robert Welling) and I have made arrangements for me to have access to those Police files on Tuesday," he told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves, who is set to preside over the case.

"We have to send those documents off to Barbados."

However, with what he described as a mountain of paperwork awaiting in Mr. Welling's office at the Department of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Peniston warned that the hearing date might have to be delayed.

The topic of the dossier has repeatedly hit the headlines ever since ZBM news said documents concerning the Police inquiry into allegations of corruption had been passed to them in May 2007. The allegations were further reported by the Mid-Ocean News on June 1, and continued to dominate headlines and airwaves for the rest of the year.

The Attorney General, Commissioner of Police and Premier Ewart Brown engaged in various failed legal attempts to get the courts to block the media from the publication of further revelations from the dossier.

They alleged that it was stolen and utilised by those with a political agenda.

Despite various stories based on leaks, the full contents of the file have never been detailed publicly, and it remains unclear how much, if any, will come out during Smith's forthcoming trial.

Mr. Peniston listed a second reason during the hearing why the trial might have to be delayed – Smith's wife Veronica is seriously ill and is set to fly overseas for treatment.

After hearing his submissions, Mr. Justice Greaves said he will conduct a further review of the pre-trial preparations on October 24.