Support: Rebecca Middleton's mother, Cindy Bennett (right) with Dr. Carol Shuman

The charity set up to fight for justice in Becky Middleton's name has folded due to a lack of donations sparking criticism that Bermuda's wealthy community did not help enough.

Dr. Carol Shuman, who set up the Rebecca Middleton Foundation, claimed the fact that some wrongly view the miscarriage of justice as a political issue damaged efforts to right the wrong.The foundation decided last September that it could not carry on funding court appeals in the case, and its charitable status expires next month.

Becky's father Dave and family supporter Rick Meens initially opted to carry on attempting to get the case re-opened against suspects Kirk Mundy and Justis Smith via legal action even after the Chief Justice rejected their first bid in April 2007.

However, Mr. Middleton and Mr. Meens who was hosting Becky on her trip to Bermuda in 1996 when she was raped and murdered admitted defeat earlier this year amid spiralling legal bills.

Mr. Meens expressed sadness that wealthy members of the community were unwilling to donate the $300,000 necessary to contest the Chief Justice's decision in the Court of Appeal despite numerous appeals to the Island's philanthropists.

"There are enough wealthy people in this country that that would be a drop in the blue for them to see this case resolved but no one came forward and we had to be realistic about it. The legal case is over. Finished. There's nothing we can do ," he said.

He added that he and Mr. Middleton are $60,000 in debt as a result of legal fees "and at our wits end over how we're going to pay that off.

"Former foundation chairman CarolShuman, who founded it to seek funds for legal action as well safety education and victim support, said:"So few people in Bermuda would volunteer to help when I set up the committee they viewed the issue as controversial and there was limited fund raising expertise.

"In November 2005, Dave and I visited major Bermuda businesses.

"All refused to help. Many individual donors came through. However, the businesses made it clear that they saw the issue as 'political'.

"This is ridiculous it is an issue of justice. However, it becomes 'political' when they apparently perceived seeking justice as an argument with Government, which it was not. Seeking justice had nothing to do with the Government.

"There were a few in the community who were very generous. However, the number was limited, the financial institutions and other large businesses were not, and the statements consistently followed the line that they didn't want to risk repercussions

."Dr. Shuman, who has written a book about the case and is awaiting its publication, quit the foundation in February 2007 amid what she described as a perceived lack of support from some board members.However, she sympathised with the decision of Mr. Middleton and Mr. Meens not to carry on fighting through the courts for fresh charges to be laid.

"The exhaustion, emotionally and physically, from their efforts and more than that from Becky's murder, left them with few options. I can understand this decision. I am simply very saddened by it," she said.

As well as raising funds for legal bills, the Rebecca Middleton Foundation campaigned on personal safety issues. Last year, it handed over 50 personal alarms to the Women's Resource Centre and also worked to highlight topics such as the danger of date rape drugs.

Mr. Meens, who took over as chairman after Dr. Shuman resigned, said the foundation was shut down with around $7,000 left in the coffers.

The money will be split between his and Mr. Middleton's legal bills and the Women's Resource Centre.

Mr. Meens added that former members of the foundation plan to form a committee to press for changes to the law that may help other murder victims' families, support the Women's Resource Centre and provide crime prevention advice.

Anyone wishing to help should email rebecca.rmfoundation@gmail.com.

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