Nation IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : Noriega Lawyer Ill; Trial Is Interrupted

Manuel A. Noriega’s racketeering trial in Miami was interrupted for at least a day when his attorney fell ill and an alternate juror had a mild heart attack. U.S. District Judge William M. Hoeveler said he would try to resume testimony today. He agreed to the delay after Noriega’s lead attorney, Frank Rubino, caught the flu over the weekend and was confined to bed. Alternate juror Arnold Andrews suffered a mild heart attack and was admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital for up to a week, Hoeveler said. The judge insisted the trial resume as soon as Rubino is ready. Andrews may have to be dropped from the jury, he said.