Not for the first time defence and prosecution lawyers clashed over evidence presented to the jury in the Rebecca Middleton murder trial. ---- Page 3 TOP JUDGE ADMITS TO CONFLICT CTS Top judge admits to conflict A bizarre coincidence unfolded in Supreme Court yesterday -- halting the sentencing of nabbed Italian fugitive Guiseppe Roncari who escaped custody 17 years ago. ---- Page 5 ELBOW CHIEF DENIES CLAIMS TOU CON Elbow chief denies claims Elbow Beach Hotel general manager Bill Shoaf has denounced an anonymous memo claiming he made racist statements in connection with the controversial World Conference of Mayors. ---- Page 9 BANKS FACE HECTIC HOLIDAY BUC Banks face hectic holiday On the January 4 PLP victory holiday, staff at Bermuda's three banks and local investment brokerages will be working to keep international clients operating on the world's markets. The holiday coincides with the introduction of the Euro. ---- Business, Page 13 GIBBONS, BROWN IN VENTURE BUC Gibbons, Brown in venture UBP deputy leader and Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons has decided to jump into the reinsurance business. Dr. Gibbons is going into business with former Centre Solutions president David Brown to form a reinsurance company.

---- Business, Page 13 WIN BOOSTS UNDER-17S SOC Win boosts under-17s Bermuda's national under-17 soccer squad are on the brink of reaching the final qualifying stages for next November's Youth World Cup in New Zealand.

---- Sport, Page 25 PARAJECKAS RETAINS TITLE GLF Parajeckas retains title Paul Parajeckas won a tense final-round shoot-out against Bermuda's Dawyne Pearman to clinch the Belmont Invitation title for the second successive year yesterday. ---- Sport, Page 25