The marathon Lagoon Park murder trial is sure to see its most gripping testimony beginning March 1, with the third defendant ? Robert Blair Tucker ? slated to take the stand.

Puisne Justice Norma Wade Miller adjourned the trial yesterday at the end of testimony of defendant James (Spook) Dill, who along with Robert Blair Tucker and Smith, denies killing American Stanley Lee on July 28, 2001.

The trial was adjourned before noon yesterday until March 1 to allow a self-employed juror to travel abroad on business. Jurors were called on November 10 and their names were pulled off the Juror?s List at the end of December ? the end of their three-month civic duty.

Tucker is expected to take the stand in his own defence after hearing Dill point the finger at him for the stabbing of the burly ex-con.

Dill said yesterday he was left in an interview room on August 14, 2001 and was approached by Det. Con. Ronald Green who shouted: ?Cut the f***ing s**t ? We (Police) know there was two knives and we know one was for you and the other was for Blari Tucker and we know you were kneeling over the body when Sha grabbed the knife and he was gasping for breath.

?My idea was that that had to have come from Mr. Tucker,? Dill explained. ?It made me feel terrified. At that time I was 130 pounds soaking wet because of my addictions. When you?re smoking drugs, eating was second class, and Green knew that.

?No, Ms Christopher, I absolutely did not have prior knowledge that Blair Tucker was going to kill Sean Russells on July 28.?

Dill, who like Smith and Tucker, has waited 30 months to tell his side of the story, interrupted the lawyers and said: ?I stand responsible for all the actions after this here (incident). I stand responsible for my actions.?

Earlier, he said: ?There was nothing in for me (for Mr. Lee to be killed). We became pretty good (friends), in the short time I had seen him.?

Crown counsel Juan Wolffe asked Dill: ?Mr. Dill, I put it to you that you were not just some addict but the events leading up to and after 28 July, you were a major, major player.?

Dill replied ?but for what purpose? What purpose? Give me a reason I would want this to happen. Give me a reason?.

In reference to an analogy he made on Thursday to Dill?s celebrated chess career, Mr. Wolffe asked: ?What happens when the lowly pawn reaches the other side?

?I see you?ve done some studying last night!? Dill said, without answering. ?Give me a reason why (I would want Mr. Lee dead). You?re completely wrong, Mr. Wolffe, I was not next to him.?

Mr. Wolffe also cross examined Mr. Dill on the knife the Crown alleges was used in the attack.

Mr. Wolffe placed the butcher?s block between himself and the jury, and using Mr. Dill?s former estimate of a 14-inch knife, the prosecutor took out two steak knives and one chef?s knife one by one, and asking ?Why not this one?.

?I got the knife that he (Tucker) told me to get,? Dill replied.

?But you also said (Thursday) that you got the knife because it would be used to open packages,? Mr. Wolffe continued. ?But in fact you have already told us that you cooked the drugs. So this package would already have been open.?

?I?ll tell you again ? He (Blair Tucker) ? told me to get that knife,? Dill said. ?I was afraid because of what he (Det. Con. Green) said. Blair Tucker has Police working for him and I had no idea if these guy was working for him.

?A grown man, Mr. Wolffe? That?s got nothing to do with sitting in a room at Police station and you know these guys can do to you.?