go to jail and take all the blame, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

But the alleged accomplice, Ernell Zacchaeus Campbell of Montego Bay, Jamaica, pleaded guilty, appeared in court and testified against Burgess.

Burgess, 35, of Rockville Lane, Pembroke, is charged with possessing $70,000 worth of cocaine with intent to supply and handling the drugs with intent to supply on June 5, 1996.

The cocaine was found to be 79 percent pure and worth $75,772.

Campbell, 35, who is now serving a five year sentence for importing the cocaine into Bermuda, testified for the first time yesterday.

He said that he left the cruise ship Dreamward on June 5, 1996 and went to Court Street where he had breakfast at the Jerk Pit on Angle Street.

Campbell said he called Burgess at the 2001 Boutique on Court Street who told him to come over and deliver the drugs.

Once at the store he took off his sneakers because the cocaine was hidden in the soles and gave it to Burgess. After this he went to the bathroom.

"I then heard talking outside,'' he recalled. "I shifted the door and saw Larry Burgess. He was trying to go through the door with the package.

"The door wouldn't open and I heard the Police ask him what he had in the bag.'' Campbell said the Police asked if there was anyone else in the store and that is when he was discovered.

Police detectives then searched Campbell and they found that the soles of his shoes had been removed and they accused him of using his soles as a hiding place for the cocaine.

Campbell said he had bought the drugs in New York with the intention of selling them and making some money in Bermuda and had been told that Court Street was a good place to find a buyer.

Under cross examination from defence counsel Mark Pettingill, Campbell said that this was the first time he had ever tried to sell drugs in Bermuda.

However as Mr. Pettingill continued to press him, Campbell admitted that he had tried to sell drugs on another occasion but he had been robbed on that occasion.

But he said Burgess was a businessman and so he felt he could trust him.

Mr. Pettingill also assailed Campbell's assertion that Burgess had given him the phone number of the 2001 Boutique so that he could contact him to make the delivery.

Campbell later admitted that the number he had on a piece of paper in his wallet -- 441-292-3059 -- may not have been the store's number but "it was a long time ago and he could not say for sure.'' Mr. Pettingill also challenged Campbell's declaration that Burgess had offered him $30,000 to take the rap. Mr. Pettingill suggested that it was untrue because there was never a moment when the two were left alone.

But Campbell was steadfast that the conversation took place at the Hamilton Police Station within the earshot of Police officers.

And he denied the defence lawyer's insinuation that he initiated the payoff when he tried to get a message to Burgess that he would take the rap if the accused agreed to pay him off and take care of his family in Jamaica.

The case continues this morning before Chief Justice Austin Ward. Charlene Scott appears for the Crown while Yogarami Horseman is assisting Mr.

Pettingill.