Yip Kai-foon sacked his entire legal team yesterday, but then appeared to fall asleep when it was time for him to conduct his defence.
Yip, 35, said to have been shot three times by police, was slumped over his wheelchair and motionless when given his first chance to cross-examine a prosecution witness in the High Court.
When asked by the judge if he had any questions, there was silence from the dock.
Yip, who had a nurse with him in court, was hit in a shootout with police in Kennedy Town during the early hours of May 13 last year, the court heard.
He denies possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or injure property, having arms and ammunition and using a gun to resist arrest.
His barristers, Graeme Mackay and Eric Kwok, left the case on Thursday at Yip's request. The development could not be reported then because the jury had not been informed.
But Mr Justice Michael Stuart-Moore called the jurors into court yesterday and said: 'Yip has decided to dispense with Mr Mackay and Mr Kwok and his solicitors.' The judge said the move was within Yip's rights.