The Supreme Court trial was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Crown prosecutor Noel Sinclair said police were looking for the man.

At 10 a.m., Justice Ted Richard explained the situation to the jury and dismissed them. But several minutes later, defendant Bernard Michel was seen running across the parking lot into the courthouse.

Although jury members had left, the court reconvened to hear the reason he was late.

Lawyer Scott Duke explained the Lutsel K'e man was staying with an elder in Dettah.

Not having a car, he tried to hitch a ride into Yellowknife around 8 a.m. Tuesday. However, he didn't get a ride until about 10 a.m. Richard decided Michel did not intend to frustrate the trial, and said the trial could still proceed by jury.

But he remanded Michel into custody for the rest of his trial, which resumed today.