THE glaring absence of 24 of 29 defence attorneys in the ongoing Klansman gang trial, which effectively stalled the proceedings Tuesday, stirred the ire of Supreme Court judge Justice Dale Palmer who, in stating that he would no longer “accommodate” their ongoing tardiness, said the issue might very well end up before the General Legal Council (GLC).

On Tuesday, which was day 59 of the matter, only three defence counsel were present when the judge entered some minutes after 10:00 am. The number rose to 10 briefly and then fell to five up when the matter was adjourned for the day, shortly before 4:00 pm.

The evidence of two witnesses had been extracted, and the prosecution and defence had been in the course of agreeing on the statement of a witness who had been on standby — and had been bound over at least twice before to give his evidence — when it became clear the matter would be stalemated.