Diggins is set to begin on February 17 in the Bermuda Supreme Court.

Trial dates were set yesterday before Chief Justice Austin Ward during February Supreme Court arraignments. The 49-year-old Somerset resident -- who was employed at the bank as senior manager of international and foreign loans -- has pleaded not guilty to stealing $2,812,500.

He has also denied obtaining the money under false pretences and with intent to defraud, inducing Mary Faries to deliver the money to New Way Property Ltd.

without proper authorisation on August 29 of last year.

Diggins is represented by lawyer Julian Hall.

Meanwhile, Mr. Justice Ward set down Thursday as the sentencing date for the man who mugged a visiting Canadian Senator and sexually assaulted one of his guests is to be sentenced Thursday afternoon.

Anthony Ricardo Richardson, 23, of Pembroke, pleaded guilty to one count of serious sexual assault and three counts of armed robbery in late November.

Four other charges, including deprivation of liberty and housebreaking, have been held back but remain on the record.

Mr. Justice Ward also set a trial date for two men accused in the murder of 28-year-old James Caines. Teiko Furbert, 25, and Sheldon Franks, 31, are to stand trial on April 14.

Caines, a father of two, was shot in the head while standing in a Curving Avenue, Pembroke home on the night of July 6, 1996.

Mortally wounded, Caines managed to stagger a quarter mile to his mother's home, where he collapsed and died in her arms.

A July 2 trial date was also set for three men accused of a daytime bank heist at the Mermaid Beach Club.

Twenty-year-old Kirk Orlando Mundy; 24-year-old Omar Devall Amory; and 20-year-old Harron Lee Powell Evans are charged with conspiring to rob the Bank of Butterfield of some $68,000 while armed with a firearm.

Also appearing before Mr. Justice Ward: Justis Raham Smith, 17, who pleaded not guilty to the premeditated murder of Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton, was ordered to appear again on March 3.

Alleged Lindo's Market robber Derek Spalding, who was remanded in custody pending a May 1 mention.

Lawyer Allan Shaun Morris, who is accused of causing the death of Marvin Anthony Bean by driving a car in a manner dangerous to the public. His trial is set to start next week, although no date was fixed.

George Bremar of Bushy Park Drive was also bound over to an undetermined July trial date. He has pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin and cannabis with intent to supply, possession of drug equipment, and escaping lawful custody. He appears again for a July 1 mention before having his trial date set.

Twenty-two-year-old American Albert Omar Peyton faces re-trial on charges of importing nearly $250,000 worth of cocaine, as well as possessing cocaine for supply.

Peyton's first trial in December ended with a hung jury. He appears on June 2 for mention.