A barrister whose antics caused a District Court case to be adjourned to allow him to compose himself yesterday admitted downing 'two dry martinis and a couple of beers' before attending the afternoon hearing.
Roderick Murray, a prosecuting counsel for the Department of Justice, appeared before Judge Chua Fi-lan in the sentencing of seven defendants linked to a case involving millions of dollars of unpaid cigarette duty. They were jailed yesterday for terms between six weeks and two years and 10 months.
Mr Murray was 40 minutes late for the morning session when Judge Chua delivered the verdict. 'Please stop muttering,' she said to Mr Murray at one point during the defence counsel's mitigation.
The hearing was then adjourned for sentencing until 4pm.
When the court resumed, Mr Murray appeared unsteady on his feet and smelled strongly of alcohol.
As Judge Chua started delivering the sentence, Mr Murray put on his sunglasses. Shortly after that, he giggled to himself and Judge Chua requested that defence barrister Francis Burkett 'assist' him.