faith in the Island's judicial system.

Earlier this week The Royal Gazette conducted an informal poll on the streets of Hamilton to learn how the public felt about the aborted trial of Justis Smith.

Mr. Smith was charged with the premeditated murder of 17-year-old Rebecca Middleton in 1996.

Supreme Court Justice Vincent Meerabux set Mr. Smith free after ruling the prosecution's three-and-a-half-week case presentation failed to prove the charge against the 20-year-old.

However, members of the public joined with the voices of the Middleton family, friends and even defence lawyers involved in the case to criticise the conduct of the investigation and trial.

"I'm disgusted,'' said Joseph Kennedy. "Absolutely, justice hasn't been done. I can only echo (defence lawyer) Archie Warner -- `cock-up after cock-up' ''.

And like many others who spoke to The Royal Gazette , Mr. Kennedy accused officials of falling victim to a "rush to judgment''.

"They can only appeal it,'' he added. "But as they said the other day on TV -- once it's written, it's written.'' Robert Washington echoed the sentiment and likened the unsuccessful trial to the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial in the US.

But he was careful to point out he did not see the defendants as similar.

And he went on to place the blame squarely on foreign officials in the Police Service and Attorney General's chambers.

While no others singled out foreign workers, the message that someone had "screwed up'' was repeated numerous times.

"I'm very disappointed,'' said one woman. "I think they should check into it to see who screwed up. I think everybody thinks so, don't they?'' Sylvia Lambert questioned how Police could "plea bargain'' with Kirk Mundy -- who was convicted as an accessory to the Middleton murder -- and yet still fail to convict Mr. Smith.

Debbie Riley shared the loss of faith in the Island's legal system.

"I feel it made our Police look bad,'' she said. "They were too much in a hurry to get somebody and they just pinned it on the wrong person.

"It's definitely an injustice.

"I hope something can be done, but it's probably too late.'' Troy Harper said: "There will be some bad press in Canada, but I don't think that it will affect Bermuda too much.'' And Reginald Minors lashed out: "One murder, once a year, and they can't even solve that.'' Only one person was less convinced about the culpability of Police and the prosecution.

"These things are always more complex than people say,'' she explained. "But I think it's probably bad publicity for Bermuda.'' Joseph Kennedy Graphic file name: KENNEDY Reginald Minors Graphic file name: MINNORS Robert Washington Graphic file name: WASHING MURDER MUR COURTS CTS