Two men were hauled before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, after being accused of trespassing and destroying a palm tree belonging to a woman who is neighbour to one of the accused.

Charged with trespassing, aiding and abetting and malicious destruction of tree is Basil Smith, while David Jackson has been charged with malicious destruction of tree and trespassing. They were ordered to give their fingerprints.

The court heard that on the day of the incident, Jackson, said to be a gardener working for Smith, removed branches from the tree that were hanging over Smith's yard.

However, Senior Resident Magistrate (RM) Judith Pusey believed that the branches were not the only thing that had been removed. It was soon discovered that trunks of the tree were also cut down.

The complainant told the Senior RM that she has been growing the palms for 36 years.

The attorney representing the men asked that mediation be introduced to resolve the matter, but the Senior RM refuted the proposal, telling the lawyer there was a certain arrogance by which the tree had been removed.

The men subsequently pleaded not guilty and a trial date of June 10 was set.