The assault trial of a man charged with throwing a pie in Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's face at the Charlottetown Civic Centre has adjourned after its first day.

Evan Wade Brown said he pushed a cream pie into Chrétien's face on August 16, 2000 as a form of political protest to raise awareness about issues ranging from contributions to large corporations to genetically modified food.

The 24-year-old man's defence is that the prime minister was quoted years ago as saying that getting a pie in the face was "an honour and a distinction" – suggesting that Chrétien consented to the incident.

Brown said he wants Chrétien to take the stand as a defence witness, but a judge has already ruled that the prime minister will not have to testify.

The Supreme Court of P.E.I. has already ruled against such a possibility, and the matter is now before the P.E.I. Court of Appeal.

News footage of the incident showed large holes in the protective RCMP shield around the prime minister.

• FROM JAN. 13, 2001: Chrétien won't have to testify at pie-throwing trial

On Monday, Brown's lawyer asked the judge for a two-month delay to review evidence for the case. But the judge only agreed to wait until Tuesday morning.