them had their case adjourned yesterday after a showdown over semantics and procedure erupted in Magistrates' Court.

Seventeen-year-old Smith, of Deepdale Road East, Pembroke, -- who has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old Canadian visitor Rebecca Middleton this summer -- has denied assaulting Det. Con. Lendra Davis and Det. Con. Clinard Burgess on February 1.

Smith has also pleaded not guilty to obstructing Police officers, violently resisting arrest, and using offensive words near the junction of Parson's Road and Deepdale Road in Pembroke on the same day.

Smith's father, Richard Smith, was also charged with assaulting Det. Con.

Burgess and Det. Con. Barry Richards, and violently resisting arrest on the same date.

Defence lawyer Archie Warner who joined the defence team yesterday, filed an appeal against Magistrate Edward King's decision not to grant an adjournment on October 25, 1996.

After some legal wrangling Mr. King gave the defence team until November 5 at which time the trial will continue, he said, unless the defence was successful in convincing the Supreme Court to find in their favour.