FIFTEEN prosecution witnesses turned up at the Princes Town court yesterday, ready to give evidence against seven police officers charged with three murders.

But with the magistrate reporting sick, the witnesses were told to return to court next month.

The witnesses, including police officers and civilians, stood before Magistrate Margaret Alert, who earlier told the senior attorneys in the case that her colleague would be absent.

"I regret to inform that Magistrate (Debra) Quintyne is ill this morning and has asked that the matter be put to July 9 or any date agreed on between yourselves."

The four senior counsels—Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard and attorney Gilbert Peterson, who are appearing on behalf of the State, and defence lawyers Israel Khan and Pamela Elder—said July 9 was convenient to them.

Before the proceedings ended, Gaspard told the court the 15 witnesses were present for the start of the matter.

They were all called before the court.

Moruga residents Abigail Johnson, Allana Duncan and Kerron "Fingers" Eccles were shot and killed in Rochard Douglas Road, Barrackpore, on the night of July 22, 2011.

Acting Sergeant Khemraj Sahadeo, Constables Renaldo Reviero, Glenn Singh, Roger Nicholas, Safraz Juman, Antonio Ramadin and Nicole Clement are charged with their murders.

The six male officers are being represented by Khan and attorneys Ulric Skerritt and Celeste St Louis.

Elder and attorney Richard Mason are representing Clement.

Last month, the case, which had been set to begin, failed to get off the ground after the court heard that Clement had been injured while being brought to the Princes Town court.

On that day, Elder said her client suffered abrasions to her hand and, also, was vomiting, had diarrhoea and was "on drips".

Clement, she said, had to be taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility.

No mention of her condition was made in court yesterday.

No word was give on the position of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) which wants to have a representative present in court during the preliminary enquiry. Khan and Elder had objected to a PCA attorney in the courtroom during the last hearing.

Gaspard had said he would have contacted the head of the PCA, Gillian Lucky.