Magistrate Chandra Sohan granted the adjournment on an application by attorney-at-law Mr Mortimer Coddette, who asked that absent leading Defence Counsel Basil Williams is given an opportunity to re-examine the witness Charles Smith, who was recalled and cross-examined by Prosecution Counsel Anil Nandalall.

Earlier, Nandalall had accused the Defence of employing delaying tactics.

He said, although the Defence kept Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Trim on the stand for five days, the witness failed to advance their case in any way.

Nandalall said the Defence had set out to call 80 witnesses but made no mention of which one will be next.

Coddette’s response was that, if the Defence decided to close its case after the re-examination of Smith by Williams, all that would have to be done is addresses.

He said Magistrate Sohan, on evaluating the evidence then, might very well conclude that a prima facie case has not been made out against Benschop.

During Trim's testimony yesterday, the magistrate disallowed a question by Coddette, about a conversation between the Crime Chief and former Director of Public Prosecutions Denis Hanomansingh, after Nandalall raised the issue of privilege.

Benschop is jointly charged with Phillip Bynoe for the capital offence but the latter remains at large, avoiding arrest warrants.