The trial of a man charged in a deputy sheriff’s injuries last year was postponed indefinitely Friday because the suspect’s attorney has been suspended for at least six months by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Warren County Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick put the brakes on the trial of Robert Vaughn on charges of aggravated driving under the influence.

Vaughn, 23, is charged in an attack on Warren County Deputy Sheriff Michael Hollingsworth on Feb. 9, 2004. Hollingsworth was directing a funeral procession from Glenwood Funeral Home on U.S. 80 East to the nearby front gate of Green Acres Memorial Park Cemetery when he was struck by a car. The driver was identified as Vaughn.

Hollingsworth spent two weeks in a coma and six weeks in a Jackson hospital recovering from his injuries. He has since returned to duty at the sheriff’s department.

A hearing had been planned for Friday for Patrick to determine why a report from a court-appointed toxicologist had not been completed. Patrick had granted a request from defense attorney Chokwe Lumumba for the state supplied expert in November.

Vaughn’s trial was scheduled to begin Monday.

On Thursday, the Mississippi Supreme Court suspended Lumumba from practicing law for six months, fined him $1,000 and ordered him to take and pass the ethics portion of the Mississippi Bar exam before returning to law practice.

After saying he knew of the supreme court’s action, Patrick Friday morning heard briefly from Ali M. ShamsidDeen, one of Lumumba’s law associates, who said he knew of Vaughn’s case but was not as familiar as is Lumumba.

Patrick then said the decision on whether the court would proceed with Monday’s trial lay with Vaughn.

Speaking very quietly, Vaughn told Patrick he wanted his original counsel to handle the trial.

“The case set for Monday will be continued,” Patrick said.

The judge said he would not set a date until he researched what the law allows him to do.

Before the discussion on Lumumba’s suspension, Patrick heard from Dr. Arthur Scott Hume, a toxicologist.

Hume told Patrick he had told Lumumba when first contacted some time ago he could not deal with Vaughn’s case until at least April because of other cases.

He also said he had not received until Thursday night the records for review. After hearing from Hume, Patrick declined to rule.