Parliamentary debates now live on the web

A permanent record of House of Assembly debates is now available on the Internet for web-wise Bermudians with a taste for politics.

The site ? http://bermuda.lcs.mit.edu/hp/ ? has been set up by Douglas De Couto and last night it contains live recordings from November 4, 14 and 18.

Anyone who wants to listen to Ministers and MPs clashing but cannot make it to the House, can also listen to a live audio feed on the Internet, when Parliament is in session on Fridays.

Mr. De Couto said the venture was probably the first of its kind in Bermuda. He added that it was ideal for people who could not get to the House to listen to debates, or those who were not able to catch the sessions live on radio.

?It?s really important that people have access to the debates,? said the computer consultant from Southampton. ?You will be able to go back and see what people have said. ?He also said it was currently quite difficult to get hold of written transcripts of debates from the House after they have taken place.

Mr. De Couto, 30, also said the Internet idea was much cheaper than running debates on a television channel, as the Government has indicated it might do. The regularly updated site states that it is unofficial, and is not run by or connected with the Bermuda Government.

Decision delayed on fate of case against couple accused of killing their baby

A decision on whether the case against a couple accused of killing their 10-month-old baby should continue has been delayed until tomorrow. After a day of legal arguments yesterday, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner called for more time in the case of Philip Paul Daniels, 49 and his wife, Renee Erma Daniels, 37.

The couple, of Verdmont Valley View, Smith?s, are charged with the manslaughter of their daughter, Samira Marye Daniels seven years ago, in November 1998.

Yesterday?s hearing saw defence lawyer Richard Hector argue that the charges against the couple be dropped. He said the delay in charging both defendants and bringing the case to court was an ?abuse? of court process. Crown counsel Paula Tyndale said the prosecution should continue. The case was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon, when a decision on whether it will go to a higher court is due.

A coroner ruled in May that Samira was unlawfully killed as a result of being violently shaken, but he said he could not rule whether anyone was responsible.

ACE worked fined for offensive words

An American insurance worker launched a foul-mouthed tirade at Police after a fight in a Hamilton bar, a court heard.

Charles Daniel Carwin, who works for ACE, was thrown out of Docksiders after a brawl broke out in the early hours, magistrates were told.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said the defendant shouted at an officer: ?Hey boy, come over here and do your f**king job?.

Mr. Caines said Carwin then swore again at the officer, who had told him his first comment was racist. His four-letter Front Street tirade included yelling ?f**k you? in his ear, the court heard, as well as ?stupid f**ker, do your job? and ?You aren?t doing s*it, you ain?t s*it?

Mr. Caines said the defendant ? who is due to leave Bermuda in two days ? then closed his fist and swung at the officer and nearly hit him in the face. The court heard yesterday how the officer then pushed the defendant back, before the American tried to strike him again and was restrained.

Carwin, defending himself in court, denied repeatedly swearing and violently resisting arrest, although he did admit screaming ?f*ck? in the officer?s ear. He said there was a fight inside Docksiders and after he was thrown out, he asked Police if he could make a complaint about the bouncers. ?Why would I offend them (Police) if I wanted help?? he asked.

He claimed the officer grabbed his throat and slammed him against a wall when he was taken in for questioning. Carwin, 25, of Strawberry Hill Drive, Paget, was fined $1,000 after admitting using insulting and offensive words on November 6.

A charge of assaulting a Police officer was withdrawn.