A story in yesterday's paper incorrectly identified Supreme Court drug case defendants Trevor Morain and Alvin Francois as Jamaican nationals. Morain is from Grenada and Francois is from St. Lucia.

The Supreme Court trial of two Jamaican nationals was aborted yesterday after the defence requested a Police witness who was off the Island.

Trevor Morain and Alvin Francois are charged with conspiring to import between May 31 and June 19, 1996, a total of 1,284 grams of cannabis worth some $60,000 if sold in half grams or $20,000 if sold in ounces.

The two are also charged with possession and handling the drug on June 18, 1996.

Yesterday lawyer Renee Foggo, who is representing Morain and Francois, said she wanted to question Det. Con. Rudy Richardson who was involved in the investigation.

Ms Foggo said Richardson was an important witness for the defence.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller reluctantly aborted the trial after it was learned that Det. Con. Richardson was off the Island and was not expected to return until next month.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller told the jury she would order a re-trial.

Morain and Francois, who arrived on the Island as workers aboard the cruise ship Zenith , have been on remand at Westgate Correctional Facility since last June when they were arrested.

The case has been adjourned numerous times -- the last time was last month after their initial lawyer Archibald Warner suffered a mild heart attack.

The matter is scheduled to be mentioned in the Supreme Court on November 3.

MAN, 51, FINED FOR STEALING FROM EMPLOYER CTS Man, 51, fined for stealing from employer A man who was employed with H.A. & E Smith for nearly 25 years pleaded guilty to stealing from the company in Magistrates' Court last week.

Dana A. Robinson, 51, of Middle Road, Warwick, was charged with stealing washcloths and towels from the department store.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said Police were called by Smith's on September 5 and told an employee was suspected of stealing from them.

At 4.30 p.m. officers visited Robinson's home with a search warrant and told him why they were there.

Robinson produced plastic wrapped washcloth sets and towels worth $90. He was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station where he admitted stealing the towels.

Robinson, who was represented by lawyer Philip Perinchief, was also found to be in possession of a "Diamond'' pillow belonging to Smith's.

Mr. Perinchief told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that Robinson had never been in trouble before and that he was "remorseful''.

Mr. Francis fined Robinson $150.