across TV screens to millions of viewers worldwide last night.

CNN World Report was expected to broadcast the story on its nightly edition, which is beamed via satellite across the globe -- giving Bermuda the most publicity since the trial ended two weeks ago.

The segment contained interviews with Rebecca's mother and father, Cindy and David Middleton.

It also gave a description of the life of the 17-year-old, who was murdered at Ferry Reach in July 1996, and showed the family coping with Christmas without her.

The failed murder trial of Justis Smith and the subsequent furore over the Bermuda justice system were also expected to be included.

The piece was scheduled for 12.30 a.m. here, 11.30 p.m. Eastern time and would have hit the West and Mid West at prime time viewing.

Yesterday, speaking from her Belleville home Mrs. Middleton said the interviews had first been recorded with Canadian national broadcaster, CBC, who ran them on Sunday night.

She said the massive CNN organisation had then picked up on the story to use on their World Report.

Meanwhile, both Cindy and David Middleton have slammed senior immigration advisor Laverne Furbert for her comments on the ensuing publicity in the aftermath of the proceedings.

David Middleton said Ms Furbert should examine her role on the new Immigration Advisory Council, following her comments on the controversy following the collapse of the trial of Justis Smith.

Ms Furbert criticised a website set up in Canada urging people to boycott Bermuda in the light of the failed legal proceedings and slammed the Royal Gazette for reporting the furore over the prosecution.

The Bermuda College worker also singled out political reporter Raymond Hainey for a story which stated that a glossy travel feature in a Canadian paper had caused outrage amongst readers.

CNN airs murder story She called for Mr. Hainey's work permit to be revoked in the light of the reports.

But yesterday, Mr. Middleton said Ms Furbert would probably want to re-examine her comments, but if she still stuck to her claims she should then consider her membership of the IAC.

He said many reasonable people who read her correspondence would probably think she was a crackpot.

"I think people in that position should think about what they are saying before they open their mouths,'' he said.

"To even suggest that someone lose their livelihood because they have a different point of view is very drastic.'' He said he did not endorse the website calling for a boycott and had nothing but praise for the way he and his former wife Cindy had been treated whilst in the Country.

"If we related to what she is doing to Raymond Hainey, we would be trying to shut down Bermuda.'' He said although they did not condone the website, it and other media had helped raise awareness of what had happened and illuminated the need for change.

"The facts are the facts, we had an awful murder down there and so far no one has really been brought to justice,'' he said.

Mr. Middleton speculated that Ms Furbert had ulterior motives in her rantings, whereas the website promoters and other Canadians were trying to publicise the controversy on a positive note.

Cindy Middleton said the comments were an attack on the freedom of speech.

"You shouldn't brush anything under the carpet,'' she said. "What are you going to do, report only nice things? If it was a perfect world that's what you could do.'' Mrs. Middleton added that she thought the Royal Gazette's reporting of the trial of Justis Smith and the events following had been fair and not slanted.

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