July was a month filled with tragedy for the country as Health Minister Nelson Bascome and "colossus of Parliament and courts" Julian Hall both died.

And the country reeled when the murder trial of five teenagers accused of murdering Bermuda Institute graduate Kellon Hill ended without a verdict.

Mr. Bascome, 53, was on vacation in the US when he died of a heart attack.

His wife Shirlene described him as the loving father to his three children, Nelson, 29, Shirnae, 23, and Madison, seven, and grandson Nekoda. According to Mrs. Bascome, the six-year-old was the spark in her husband's life.

At the time she said: "My husband was a man of the community and he cared so much for the people. He was liked across-the-board.

"He did so much and he loved all people and worked for the betterment of people from all walks of life.

"When people say it takes a village to raise a child he was one of those men who was in the village and helped raise so many children in the community, through soccer and drums. He was concerned about the young people of Bermuda."

The couple had been married for 29 years. Mrs. Bascome said her husband's death came as a great shock: "It is very hard right now, but we have had support from so many in the community and family and friends. We have had overwhelming support."

Mr. Hall died peacefully after a long illness, surrounded by his family.

Known as a colourful and outspoken figure, he acted in many of Bermuda's highest-profile legal cases of recent decades.

In addition to being famed in the courtroom for his formidable intellect and eloquent manner, he was also one of Bermuda's best-known political activists.

Beginning his career with the United Bermuda Party, Mr. Hall later switched allegiances to become one of the Progressive Labour Party's strongest voices

Leading the tributes was one of his three daughters, Liana Hall, 24.

She said: "My father was, to me and other people, a giant of a man. He really was a legend.

"He was an incredibly intellectual person who touched so many people. He was exceptionally generous — so many people have contacted me to tell me he helped them financially through law school."

Mr. Hall was declared bankrupt in 2000, which prevented him from practising as a barrister in Bermuda's courts.

He was finally able to regain his professional certification earlier this year after a change in the law. However, his illness prevented him from being able to stage a return to the courtrooms before his death.

Premier Ewart Brown at the time said: "Wanda and I are once again struck by the loss of another dear friend. Julian Hall was my brother, my political ally, my lawyer and my advisor.

"His love of life and his pursuit of justice were exceeded only by his unmatched individual brilliance. We miss him already."

Kellon Hill's death seemed to be in vain after a jury failed to reach a verdict following more than seven hours of deliberation.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons had asked the ten women and two men to come to a decision on which at least nine agreed on whether defendant Kellan Lewis was guilty or not.

By 7 p.m., the jury panel was hung and discharged by the judge.

Kellan Lewis was the last of five defendants that originally went on trial accused of murdering Mr. Hill as he left a late-night party at Elbow Beach last August 9.

Prosecutors alleged that he snatched a gold chain from around Mr. Hill's neck, starting a fight, and that he later used a knife to stab the victim around his chest and body, causing a fatal wound to his heart.

The other four defendants Kevin Warner, 19, Zharrin Simmons, 17, Gary Hollis, 16, and Devon Hairston, 18, were also alleged by prosecutors to have been part of a fight with the victim and to have used weapons against him.

However, the judge directed the jury to find them not guilty at the close of the prosecution case on the basis that they had no case to answer based on the evidence.

Lewis will stand retrial in February.