the case of a Trinidadian woman accused of working illegally at the Clayhouse Inn.

Natalie Noel took the stand in her own defence yesterday, denying that she was contracted to work for veteran bar owner Choy Aming.

Noel, who lives in an upstairs apartment with her husband who is on contract in Bermuda, denies working for Mr. Aming on June 15 this year.

Crown counsel Dorien Taylor is prosecuting and lawyer Richard Hector is defending Mrs. Noel.

She told the court she was retrieving a can of cranberry juice from a storeroom next to the bar when Immigration officers approached.

"I was getting the cranberry when Choy came up to me and Ms Daniels and the others came up behind him,'' Mrs. Noel said. "They were saying Choy was trying to push me in the room -- I was already in the room.'' She admitted wearing a black skirt and white shirt but claimed the Clayhouse Inn uniform is black pants and a "white, red, and black'' T-shirt with Clayhouse Inn and Coca Cola on it.

Noel flatly denied earning pay for "helping out'' at the club.

She claimed to be watching her husband perform and was sitting with Mr. Aming.

"She asked for a Shirley Temple (a non-alcoholic drink) and I went to get it,'' Noel said.

She added that when she got to the bar a waitress named "Patrice'' was filling drink orders and asked her to get the juice.

That was when the Immigration Inspectors arrived, confronting her that she was working.