'Mr Asia' trial Virus halts hearing

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 12

'Mr Asia' trial Virus halts hearing

NZPA Lancaster Concern that a viral infection could spread through the “Mr Asia” trial courtroom yesterday followed a decision to suspend proceedings. One juryman has the illness. which led the trial, judge, Mrs Justice Heilbron, to dismiss the 12 yesterday morning without hearing any court business. They will return today, when she hopes to continue the drugs conspiracy and murder trial. Her Honour told the Court that the man wanted to "soldier on,” but she said that it would be very trying and worrying for him. "In fairness to the defendants and the-jury I think we ought not to sit while the juryman is feeling ill,” she said. Her Honour was address- • ing the Court after a 40minute consultation with leading legal counsel in her chambers. Afterwards one barrister eighteenth century shire hall,

a room that often becomes stuffy. “When you think about it it’s remarkable that we’ve got this far without any interruption because of illness.” the barrister said. Only 10 minutes of further business was conducted on the seventy-eighth day of the trial. Judge Heilbron told counsel it was a chance to sort out legal argument set down for later dates, but after a further hour's adjournment she was the only one with any query. Questions about her notes of the prosecution case were sorted out, and the court rose. It had been due to hear the prosecution's junior counsel Rhys Davies — invested as Queen's Counsel a week ago — continue his first crossexamination in the case. ■ On Wednesday Mr Davies was questioning defendant Kingsley Fagan, a former Scots Guardsman, about his intended trip to Australia as a cocaine courier.