The wheels have been set in motion to bring the unresolved murder case of teenager Rebecca Middleton back to the courtroom.

Lawyers for the Middleton family hope they will eventually be able to bring fresh criminal charges against suspects in the ten-year-old case.

Chief Justice Richard Ground listened to lawyers representing both the Department of Public Prosecutions and the family of the murdered teenager yesterday as a timeframe was drawn-up for the countdown to a full judicial review, which is now expected to take place in the early months of 2007.

In March this year DPP director Vinette Graham Allen decided not to reinvestigate and consider fresh charges in the brutal rape and murder of Canadian visitor Becky, 17, at a remote spot at Ferry Reach, St. George's in July 1996.

Lawyers for the Middleton family claim that decision was wrong and have been granted permission by the Island's top judge for a review of the matter. Attorney Kelvin Hastings-Smith, of Appleby Hunter Bailhache, has now served evidence to the DPP containing reasons as to why the case should be reinvestigated.

At a Supreme Court hearing before Mr. Justice Ground, the Department of Public Prosecutions agreed to file its evidence as to why the director made her decision by January 19.

The Chief Justice ordered that the judicial review should be set down for the earliest convenient date thereafter.

"This issue needs to be resolved and I will not let it drift," said Mr. Justice Ground.

He also warned against anyone speculating in public on what form of procedure the judicial review will take, specifically zeroing in on an unnamed lawyer who spoke on the matter to The Royal Gazette. Mr. Justice Ground said such speculation verges on contempt of court and he considers it a serious matter.