beating death at the US Naval Air Station.

Ensign Marie McGahan said she expected the investigation into the death of Benita Lynne Hinds would be completed today.

The 25-year-old Adrian, Michigan woman died from a brain haemorrhage caused by a head injury suffered in a domestic dispute on the Base early on Saturday.

Her husband, US Navy Petty Officer David Hinds, who is in his early 20s, has been in military custody since the incident. But Ens. McGahan said yesterday he had not been charged.

The couple has two children, and grandparents have arrived from the US to look after them, Ens. McGahan said.

RETAIL SALES DOWN FIN January's falling retail sales figures were not a surprise after an unusual upsurge in spending in December.

The 2.4 percent overall fall is being blamed on vehicle sales, which fell 16.8 percent compared to 1992.

Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul said that the fall in January, compared to the percentage rises during the last four months of 1992, was not a surprise.

Dr. Saul said: "Most people appeared to go on a spending spree over Christmas. It was a good Christmas under the circumstances.'' And car dealers apparently did very well during December. A Statistics Department spokesman said: "The overall decline in retail receipts was primarily due to the fall-off in demand for motor vehicles following the robust sales activity reported in December 1992.'' In the general retail sector, seasonal January discount sales pushed gross revenue up 1.2 percent but after adjusting for inflation, total volume of retail sales fell more than five percent.

People returning from Bermuda from overseas vacation and business trips in January declared purchases of goods worth $1.83 million, a 7.6 percent increase on January 1992.

HEARING CONTINUES CTS A Supreme Court hearing to overturn an injunction preventing The Royal Gazette from publishing transcripts of a tape used in a drugs case moves into its third day this morning.

Arguments began on Monday in a closed hearing before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr.

Justice Ward.

Lawyer Mr. Keiron Unwin represents the newspaper while Mr. Julian Hall MP represents himself.

Mr. Hall was granted the injunction by Mr. Ward on March 15, shortly after The Royal Gazette published transcripts of a Casemates tape recording the words of convicted drug dealer Dexter Dillas.

FORGERIES FOUND CRM More forged banknotes have surfaced, Police revealed yesterday.

But unlike fakes discovered last week they are US bills, not British. And this time detectives believe they are being deliberately used by criminals. Six $100 bills have been successfully passed at local shops - five of them at one store.

"It's believed the reports may be related as two of these fake bills were bearing the same serial number, B65079337A,'' said Police spokeswoman Sgt.

Andrea Browne.

"We're asking merchants to be attentive when receiving US cash, particularly in larger denominations.'' She said brochures were available from Police and libraries and merchants could also contact the crime prevention department on 299-4286.

FIGHTING WARNING CTS Young men who clobber each other with baseball bats face a court clampdown.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis has vowed to get tough with street fighters .

"I am warning everybody starting today that I am going to take a tough line against those who use offensive weapons,'' he said.

Yesterday's warning came as he fined two youths for fighting in Reid Street on November 22.

Derrick E. Butterfield, 25, of Dundonald Street, Pembroke, and John T.

Paynter, 23, of Middle Road, Warwick, admitted fighting.

Mr. Francis fined Butterfield, who admitted possessing a baseball bat, $350, and Paynter $200.