Five tourists were robbed on Tobacco Bay Beach in St. George's yesterday morning by a man wielding a machete.

The group of visitors told Police they were on the beach at around 1.20 a.m. and at around 1.45 a.m. were approached by a thief holding a machete.

The man demanded and took $10 from a visiting couple. He then raised the machete and demanded that three other visitors hand over $200. The victims told Police that the man then escaped with an accomplice on a motorcycle.

The two robbers fled on a maroon or red scooter but were not wearing helmets. The machete brandishing thief was described as a black male, about 5ft 10in, and of slim build. He was wearing a dark shirt, blue jean shorts and a dark baseball cap.

The second man was described as a black male wearing a yellow shirt. Inquiries into this incident are still under way. Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact the St. George's Criminal Investigation Unit at 297-1122.

Greaves moves up

It may look a bit like a case of musical chairs as Magistrate Carlisle Greaves is set to do a stint as an Assistant Justice in the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Richard Ground said yesterday that the former Acting Senior Magistrate will be moving up to Supreme Court for a three month trial period, adding: “I thought I'd try him out.”

Mr. Greaves was Acting Senior Magistrate for three years as Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner filled in as an Assistant Justice in Supreme Court. Nine weeks agoMr. Warner returned to the lower court.

Mr. Justice Ground said Mr. Greaves will start his trial period after he returns from vacation.

CD&P lawyer dies

News has been received of the death of Michael Woods, a long-time senior lawyer with Conyers Dill & Pearman. He was 70.

Mr. Woods, who lived in Paget, died in Oxford, England.

Mr. Woods, who received his law degree from Worcester College, Oxford, first worked with Conyers Dill & Pearman as a management consultant in 1968 when he helped to restructure the firm. He then joined the firm full time.

He retired in 1995 and returned to Oxford to live, although he returned to the Island on several occasions after retirement. He leaves his widow, Claire, his daughter Julia and his son, James.

A memorial service will be held in Bermuda later this year.