A dispute over a $3,300 doctor's bill for forensic work was brought before the courts on Tuesday.

It may be some time however, before the matter is fully resolved, as the trial was postponed until November.

The action is also the first case of sibling rivalry between defence attorneys, Richard Horseman, representing Dr. Femi Bada and Ms Juliana Jack, representing J.S. Darrell Limited. The brother and sister have never faced each other in court.

The trial centres around the death of a crewman who died aboard a Greek oil tanker, which was forced to divert to Bermuda on May 22 last year.

The MT Sea Princess was en-route to Houston, Texas from Russia but diverted to Bermuda where the corpse was unloaded onto a pilot boat and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for an autopsy.

During the stopover, local agents John S. Darrell Limited said the dead man was a 50-year-old Filipino national who suffered fatal head injuries when he fell on deck.

Police were called in to investigate the mishap. The investigation did not suggest foul play and the Sea Princess was allowed to leave Bermuda waters.

Dr. Bada was the medical doctor who attended the ship to issue a death certificate and carry out forensic work.

The first witness was Police Insp. Mark Bothelo of Marine division, who said he was informed that a ship was entering Bermuda waters with a dead seaman on board. A team was organised to board the tanker to investigate the death.

Insp. Bothelo testified he spoke with Mr. Donald MacPherson of J.S. Darrell Limited. and asked if the agents would pay for the doctor's services, and was told yes.

Dr. Bada expected payment by the end of the week, but phoned the following week and was told Mr. MacPherson was on holiday.

He phoned the following week, and was told by John S. Darrell Limited that they had been advised not to pay him.

Before Ms Jack could begin cross-examination, the trial was halted by Magistrate William Francis due to time constraints.

It will resume in November with at least four other witnesses expected to take the stand SHIPPING SHI