The attorney defending Lydia Magras, who is charged in connection with the embezzlement of $1.7 million from Little Switzerland, was accused Monday by Territorial Court Judge Soraya Diase of attempting to delay the start of his client's trial.
At a pre-trial conference Diase advised Magras' attorney, Treston Moore, that the trial will begin July 27. Reading from a motion filed by Moore, Diase said the attorney's concerns were vague and inconclusive.
"Repeatedly, the defendant has used delaying tactics to stall the start of this trial," Diase said.
Diase imposed a number of deadlines on Moore, including one at 5 p.m. yesterday, by which Moore had to file objections to expert testimony provided by government witness V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt.
Diase also imposed a 5 p.m. Monday deadline for Moore to file his request that she recuse herself. Moore wanted Diase to remove herself because her husband, Gordon Coffelt, was a partner in Travel Time Travel Agency, which has an ongoing financial dispute with Magras' Bon Voyage Travel.
Diase said she would take that request under advisement.
Bon Voyage Travel was the company through which the government alleges Magras and Little Switzerland employee Lorraine Quetel attempted to launder money.