lawyer expected to take part is no longer coming.

The re-trial of alleged drug importer Larry Sinclair Ebbin was due to start today.

But lawyer Mr. Michael Scott made a last-minute request to a Supreme Court judge on Tuesday, asking for a postponement.

His application was granted by Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade, and the case will now go ahead in the new year.

Ebbin is charged with importing cocaine with others in May, 1990, and conspiring to import cocaine between October, 1988 and May, 1990.

Last year he was jailed for 20 years along with Mr. Ted Ming, Dexter Edwin Dillas and Mr. Colin Winfield Smith.

The Appeal Court later criticised the handling of the case and freed Mr. Ming and Mr. Smith. Re-trials were ordered for Dillas and Ebbin.

English Queen's Counsel Mr. John Perry, who represented Mr. Ming in the original trial, had been due to return to the Island to defend Ebbin in his re-trial.

But "arrangements had not come to fruition'' and a new senior lawyer needed to be appointed. Mr. Scott asked that Mr. Richard Hector be allowed to take over.

Mr. Hector told the court the case was of great public importance, but he had not yet taken detailed instructions from Ebbin.

The postponement was opposed by Crown Counsel Mr. Diarmuid Doorly, for the Attorney General.

Mrs. Justice Wade said that in the interests of justice, she would grant "one final adjournment'' until December 7, when the case would come up for a mention.

She said January 4 would be considered a tentative start date for the re-trial.