The mother of a man killed with a machete outside a Hamilton nightclub yesterday claimed one of his attackers should have been tried for murder after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Ryan Rudolph (Tiger) Ball was due to appear in Supreme Court on a charge of murdering 27-year-old Jermaine (Baby Red) Pitcher in February last year, but instead offered a guilty plea to manslaughter.

Director of Public Prosecutions Khamisi Tokunbo accepted the lesser charge.

The case was adjourned for sentencing.

But outside the court, Mr. Pitcher's mother, Goldie O'Neil, said she wanted to see each of the three men accused of his death go on trial for murder so she could get justice for her son.

And she said she still did not know the reasons for the early morning killing, which happened outside Champions nightclub in Reid Street as scores of people looked on.

Mrs. O'Neil, who lives in St. David's, was in tears after the hearing yesterday morning.

"He (Ball) doesn't know what he has done to me, and I still have not had an explanation as to why this happened,'' she said. "I feel that he should have had a trial, and then I could have dealt with it. I just want justice for my son.

"If I was a parent and my son did this, I would have apologised. But no parent has apologised to me.

"My son never robbed or mugged anyone, and yet this man is getting away with murder.'' She said she still felt angry and hurt about the death of her son, and still cried for him, especially at family times such as birthdays and Christmas.

And she said she would not rest until she felt justice had been done.

Mr. Pitcher, who also lived in St. David's, was declared dead on arrival at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on February 27.

He had died of horrific stab wounds, believed to have been caused with a machete.

Eyewitnesses said that a large crowd was gathered around a disturbance near to the former Ambassador's Club, but it scattered in terror after the clash between two groups of people turned ugly.

Family protests manslaughter plea It was claimed at the time that a grey car screeched to a halt outside the club and at least three men got out and clashed with others on the sidewalk.

One eye witness at the time described the scene as a "war zone'' and it was thought that the killing could have been drug-related.

Three other men, including Mr. Pitcher's half brother Shane Fox and Ball, were also believed to have been rushed to hospital.

Ball, who is from Warwick and whose injuries were believed to have been life-threatening, was the third man to be charged in connection with the killing.

When Ball, 28, of Rock Valley Lane, finally appeared before Magistrates' Court at the end of March, he did so supported on crutches.

The day before, he had been arrested immediately after being discharged from hospital where he had been recovering from his injuries.

Mrs. O'Neil's husband, Vincent O'Neil, said he was disappointed with yesterday's hearing.

And he said it appeared as though this case was a repeat of the Rebecca Middleton murder case, which resulted in one man being acquitted of murder and another being allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of accessory after the fact, rather than murder.

Mr. O'Neil added: "There should have been a murder trial, so Bermudians could see justice being done. This has not done anything for the country.'' Chief Justice Austin Ward adjourned the hearing until the next arraignment session on February 1, when it will come up for mention. A date for sentencing may be decided then.

Keneil Ingham and Jamal Robinson, also both from Warwick, have been charged with the murder of Mr. Pitcher and are expected to appear for trial soon.