Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet has refused to step down from sitting on the Basdeo Panday integrity retrial.

She gave her ruling in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s court this morning after defense attorneys requested that she should not adjudicate in the case.

Panday’s attorneys submitted that because she had knowledge of another court matter involving their client she should recuse herself from the trial.

But Espinet said because of the heavy workload in the court magistrates had to adjudicate in several matters at the same time.

The mater was adjourned to October 15