obstructing Police during Tuesday's fracas at the Hamilton Bus Depot.

Frederick Anthony Swan, Jamil Crosby Simmons, Damen Derek Mallory, and Kirkland Ronald Simmons all pleaded not guilty to riotous behaviour in a public place.

Kirkland Simmons, 16, of King Street, Pembroke, also pleaded not guilty to obstructing a Police officer in the execution of his duty.

His arm in a sling, Mallory, 18, of Ord Road, Warwick, denied obstructing an officer, using offensive words and violently resisting arrest.

Swan, 16, of Harrington Sound Road, Smith's Parish, also denied a charge of obstructing a Police officer.

And Jamil Simmons, 18, of Curving Court, Pembroke, also pleaded not guilty to obstruction and a third charge of using offensive words.

Kirkland Simmons and Swan were wearing CedarBridge School uniforms.

Mr. King set a trial date of May 11 in Magistrates' Court. He ordered the young men released on $1,000 bail with one surety in a like amount.

When Duty Counsel Peter Farge suggested a trial date that did not conflict with the school term, Mr. King said: "The wages of sin is death. Hold it, I'm not saying that people should be put to death. I didn't say that did I? "People are silent,'' he added. "That will be the headline tomorrow, `magistrate wants death penalty'. I tried for an earlier date, Mr. Farge.'' At the end of the hearing, Swan's mother asked Mr. King "is it necessary that they put these boys in cuffs, just to go back to the Police Station?'' while other family and supporters grumbled about the media presence in and outside the courtroom.

Mr. King said it was not his prerogative whether someone is handcuffed inside a courtroom or not when they are taken back to Hamilton Police Station.

"That is not a matter that I have jurisdiction over,'' he said as the young men were escorted out.

The young men were taken into custody on Tuesday during a fracas at the Hamilton Bus Depot around 4.30 p.m. after a young woman was arrested.

A Police spokeswoman said the incident was sparked when a Parish constable came between two unruly teenage girls.

One of the girls escaped, but the officer was overwhelmed by a large crowd which descended on the officer who called for urgent backup.

Eyewitness accounts of the size of the Police presence varied from three to ten Police cars.

The 13-year-old girl first arrested was set to be bailed and released on Tuesday night.

Police are treating the initial fight as a separate incident and investigations are continuing to apprehend the second girl.

Yesterday saw no repeat of Tuesday afternoon's bus station fracas.

A Police spokesman confirmed that there were no incidents throughout the afternoon and they were not called out on any emergency.

"We didn't put on any extra manpower -- it was just a normal afternoon, the same as usual,'' the spokesman said. "But it was also very quiet and we didn't receive any calls.''