Police: probe into woman's death continues

Police are continuing to investigate the death of mother-of-one Alshante Brangman.

The 23-year-old died at 8.29 on Tuesday morning after an alleged domestic incident. An autopsy is likely to take place today or tomorrow according to the Coroner's officer. Detectives from the Serious Crime Unit are working on the investigation.

A Police spokesman said; "A 28-year-old Sandys parish man remains in custody assisting Police with their inquiries. Whilst there is a person in custody, the investigation and any subsequent conclusion as to the cause of her death will be predicated on the evidence in the matter."

The Bermuda Police Service is currently awaiting the forensic pathologist's report. The spokesman continued: "Police continue to appeal for witnesses to an assault between a man and a woman in the Emergency Department of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital around 1.50 pm on Sunday, February 28.

"The Serious Crime Unit would like to speak with any member of the public that may have witnessed this incident. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8115 or the independent 24 hour confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hot line on 800-8477."

Students in the UK could get BA discount

Bermudian students could soon receive a discount on British Airways flights. Early yesterday evening the Government's London office Facebook account updated their page with the promise: "British Airways — Student discount coming soon!"

The Royal Gazette contacted Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque about the discount and was told: "Further details of this will be announced shortly. Whilst accurate, posting this notice was premature. It will now be removed for the avoidance of doubt."

If the discount goes through it will make studying in the UK even cheaper than it already is.

In September 2007 it was announced that Bermudian students would be charged "home fees" to attend UK schools instead of international student rates. The announcement came after the Bermudian Government campaigned for the change which saw annual fees to universities drop from $19,000 to $5,700. British Airways did not return a request for comment.

Par-la-Ville hotel to start later this year

The Corporation of Hamilton has reiterated its commitment to break ground on a hotel at Par-la-Ville car park this year.

Alderman Pamela Ferreira said at a Corporation meeting that groundbreaking will take place between July 31 and December 31 this year. In November 2007 the Corporation of Hamilton signed a deal to develop a five-star Ritz Carlton on the site of the Par-la-Ville car park.

Last June Premier Ewart Brown announced the exclusive five-star hotel and residence development would now be part of the St. Regis brand.

The St. Regis Bermuda will feature 140 rooms and suites and 80 serviced residences, and will be located on the corner of Par-la-Ville Road and Church Street, overlooking the park.

Sex-ed drawings cut from M1 school texts

Education officials deemed the sexual education portion of a new science book inappropriate for M1 students and tore it out.

The pages are said to be filled with "explicit" drawings of sexual intercourse. "The science curriculum staff have textbooks that were to be used with the M1 students, ten-year-olds, and the textbook is based on the UK national curriculum where human reproduction is taught in MI," a Ministry spokesperson said.

"We don't teach it until M3. We're going to continue to teach it in M3. The particular textbook had a quite explicit line drawing of human sexual intercourse which the teachers and curriculum officials didn't feel was appropriate for M1 students. They will reserve the pieces moved for M3. We feel it's important to get that knowledge by M1 but not with the level of explicitness."

Care for recent gun violence victims cost KEMH $250,000

More than $250,000 was spent on health care for victims of gun violence, according to the Bermuda Hospitals Board. Between January and December 2009, 17 gunshot victims were treated in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Emergency Room at an average cost of $2,446.76.

Nine of these victims were also admitted to the hospital for an average stay of 4.1 days and an average cost of $19,853. These costs would have been covered by the victim's insurance — if they had it — and the hospital's subsidies, a financial aid provided by the Government to ensure coverage for the indigent, aged, youth and geriatric.

A BHB spokesperson stressed that the $250,000 only covered any care provide by KEMH and not further rehabilitation or outpatient services required. A BHB spokeswoman said: "The violence in the community does have an impact on costs if the injured parties are in the one of the subsidised groups. This totals to an overall cost of about $250,000, just for gunshot wound victims for emergency and inpatient care. It does not include outpatient services such as wound care and rehabilitation."

Three homes hit by burglars on Wednesday

Police responded to three burglaries on Wednesday when cash, jewellery and electronic items were stolen.

In the first, Police received a report that jewellery and a quantity of cash had been stolen from a Berkeley Road, Pembroke residence and a Prospero Lane, Smith's parish residence.

In the last incident, Police received a report of a burglary where a black 48" Toshiba flat screen TV, a Sony PlayStation 3 video game system, an Apple iPod Nano and personal items were stolen from a Barrack Hill, St. George's residence.