The family of murdered Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton hope legal proceedings today will result in fresh charges against the suspects in the killing of their daughter.
Top lawyer Cherie Booth QC, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will represent them in asking Bermuda’s Chief Justice to quash a prosecutor’s decision not to reopen the case.No-one has ever been convicted of murdering the 17-year-old, who was raped and stabbed to death while on vacation in Bermuda in 1996.
Today, Ms Booth will attempt, through a Supreme Court judicial review, to persuade Chief Justice Richard Ground that the case should be re-opened and fresh charges pressed against the men originally accused of killing Rebecca.
If she is successful, it is unlikely the Island’s top judge would order Director of Public Prosecutions Vinette Graham-Allen to do so, but she would have to reconsider the position she took a year ago.
Rebecca’s father Dave Middleton, who has travelled to Bermuda for the hearing, said: “I know this is a step along the way but I’m very hopeful it’s going to go in our favour. What we want is to get the punishment that goes with the crime.”
Kelvin Hastings-Smith, from Mr. Middleton’s legal team said: “There is a misconception that this is a criminal trial and somehow a wrong is going to be put right, but it is the first step in a process that may lead to possible criminal charges being laid.
Please see here for more info from The Royal Gazette - Bermuda. News media in Toronto are also picking up on the latest twist to the unfortunate loss of life in Bermuda.
