The jury in the Llewellyn Peniston trial were ushered in and out of the courtroom several times yesterday as lawyers spent the majority of the day wrangling with legal arguments.

Peniston's ex-wife, Sylvia Oreeta Peniston, testified on the ninth day of the Supreme Court fraud trial before a six-man, five-woman jury. One female juror dropped out earlier this week.

Ms Peniston said although she was suffering from a flare-up of lupus, the disease in no way impeded her ability to give clear evidence.

During cross-examination, Ms Peniston said she supported Peniston's efforts to rebuild his life after he encountered financial difficulties -- despite the fact that they were no longer married.

And she admitted making pension funds available to him, although she did not have details about how the money was going to be used.

Ms Peniston agreed with defence lawyer Julian Hall when he said: "Whatever you could do (for Peniston) you would do.'' "Is it fair to say that the running of matrimonial finance was left entirely up to (Peniston) because he's a bit of a control freak?'' Mr. Hall asked, to which Ms Peniston quietly responded, "Yes''.

Mr. Hall put it to Ms Peniston that many people were out to "get'' Peniston after he became financially successful.

"He came from humble beginnings -- limited education and a lot of ambition -- but there were some who were seeking to destroy him because this whippersnapper from back-of-town had the temerity to start his own business, isn't that right?'' he asked Ms Peniston -- to which she agreed.

Mr. Hall asked "You don't hate your ex-husband, do you?''. Ms Peniston replied "I got over that years ago''.

Llewellyn Peniston has denied the three counts of perjury, two counts of fabricating evidence, two counts of theft, and three counts of fraudulently concealing property.

The Crown alleges Peniston hid the proceeds from cashing in the pension policies -- worth $14,016.82 and $10,961.64 administered by Bermuda Fire and Marine Ltd. -- which were both the property of his ex-wife.

Ms Peniston previously revealed in court that her ex-husband -- from whom divorce proceedings were complete in 1988 -- had not paid her any money from the policies.

The Crown also alleges Peniston misled the bankruptcy hearings by fabricating evidence purporting to be sworn by Ms Peniston on September 9, 1987, and later testifying to that.

He is alleged to have used the money to fund law studies at the University of Buckingham in the UK.

Ms Peniston said he handed her several documents on May 11, 1994 which she signed without reading.

And she was later upset to learn details of one document -- dated September 9, 1987 -- that purportedly directed money from the pension policies to her.

"(Police) wanted me to look into the file to come up with documentation to prove or disprove the letter of 1987...I did not want to do that,'' she said.