The absence of lead prosecutor Gilbert Peterson, SC, yesterday prompted the premature adjournment of the preliminary enquiry into the 2011 shooting deaths of Moruga friends Alana Duncan, Abigail Johnson and Kerron "Finger" Eccles.
Peterson, who is said to be down with the flu, is leading the state's case against police officers Ag Cpl Khemraj Sahadeo, PCs Antonio Ramdhin, Glen Singh, Roger Nicholas, Ronaldo Rivero and Safraz Juman.
Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard is also heading the prosecution team against the officers, all of whom are jointly charged with the July 22, 2011 murders.
The three friends were killed in an alleged police encounter at Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore.
Yesterday when the officers reappeared in the Princes Town First Court before Magistrate Debra Quintyne, state attorney Eileen Greene, who is instructing Gaspard and Peterson, sought an adjournment.
She said due to Peterson's ill health he was unavailable to attend court.
Greene suggested the matter be adjourned to January 17 and lead defence attorney for the officers Senior Counsel Israel Khan did not object to the suggested date.
"Peterson is usually in court. If he is ill then he is really ill," he said.
Quintyne then informed the officers that Peterson was unwell and Gaspard had another professional commitment that he had to attend to yesterday.
She said both sides agreed to the adjournment.