The man accused of the murder of mother-of-three Chena Danette Trott in August, 2002, will not face trial until next summer as the defendant has yet to secure a defence lawyer.

George (Messy) MacDonald Liburd, 32, of Pembroke, appeared in Supreme Court on Friday to say he had no legal representation after Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley accepted lawyer Elizabeth Christopher?s request to be taken off the case.

Liburd denies killing Ms Trott, 32, at the Esso TigerMarket on Crawl Hill in Hamilton Parish on August 9, 2002.

On Friday, Mr. Justice Kawaley heard that Liburd had refused to work with a series of defence lawyers while others had been unavailable to assist him.

Senior Legal Aid counsel Susan Moore-Williams told the court: ?We have tried to facilitate (Liburd) with a series of attorneys. He said he wanted Ms Christopher, then said he no longer wanted her.

?We urged it upon him that his (trial) was coming up... On September 17, he said his family would assist him with getting representation by a Queen?s Counsel. On October 1, we urged him to make a decision. He agreed that he had no name to offer me. I referred it to the Legal Aid Committee on October 7.

?When Mr. Llewelyn Peniston was assigned for representation, Liburd then said he was not happy with Mr. Peniston and wanted to be transferred to Richard Hector QC. When I contacted Mr. Hector on Friday, October 15, he said that he would be off the Island and would not be in a position to assist the defendant. Liburd then wished for Victoria Pearman to assist him.

?However, Ms Pearman was also unable to represent him.?

Mr. Justice Kawaley said: ?Historically it was very straightforward to change lawyers and throw the Supreme Court list of trials into confusion.?

But he granted Ms Christopher?s application.

Principal Crown counsel Juan Wolffe objected to the adjournment as the crime took place in 2002, had been fixed for trial before and had been adjourned once before by the defendant. The trial involves 35 witnesses, four of whom had to come from overseas.

?But our overriding concern is for the family of Ms Trott who deserve closure and fairness,? Mr. Wolffe said.

Mr. Justice Kawaley ?reluctantly? granted the adjournment and remanded Liburd until his mention on December 1.

His trial is now not expected to start until June, 2005.