The man acquitted of the murder of Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton was brought before the court again yesterday after being involved in an early morning gang-related brawl.

Justis Smith, 22, who was sensationally acquitted of Becky's murder in December 1998, was charged with a second man of fighting in a public place early yesterday morning.

Smith, of Deepdale Road, Pembroke, and Aron Aitken, 21, of Brimstone Hill, Devonshire, initially pleaded not guilty to taking part in the fight near to the Esso Service Station on Par-la-Ville Road.

But Aitken, who plans to return to college in Alabama this weekend, later admitted to the charge when he learned the case would go to trial in October.

Smith also changed his plea to guilty, meaning the case was dealt with yesterday.

Prosecutor Wayne Caines said Police responded to a disturbance at the gas station at about 3.20 a.m. yesterday morning.

Several young men who were believed to be involved in a heated dispute left the area soon after at the officers' request.

However, the court heard how a fight then broke out between Aitken and Smith further along the street.

The men wrestled each other to the ground and were subsequently arrested.

Aitkens told the court he had broken up many fights that night between opposing town and country gangs.

`'I was going to my boy's bike to leave when I got jumped from behind," he said.

`'I don't know who jumped me. By the time the man (officer) found me, I was on the ground getting kicked. I lost a tooth and chains during the fight.

`'People were just trying to fight all night. The guy didn't know if I was country or town and jumped me for no reason.''

When asked by Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves why he would risk his own life to break up a fight, Aitkins said: `'I have friends from both town and country. When I see two friends fighting I want to break it up."

Defence attorney Elizabeth Christopher spoke for Smith saying he had intervened on behalf of a smaller friend.

David McCann, 18, of Middle Road, Southampton, who was scheduled to board a flight back to university at midday yesterday, pleaded guilty to using offensive words.

He said he was cursing because his friend had been jumped on.

Mr. Caines said that after both Aitkens and Smith had been arrested, Police noticed McCann pacing up and down saying `f**k' repeatedly.

He was warned that it was an offence to curse in public, but ignored the warning and was arrested.

McCann said he was upset his friend had been arrested for a fight that he did not start.

Mr. Greaves fined McCann $50.

Both Aitkens and Smith were given a conditional discharge, and were warned to behave themselves.

Justis Smith was accused of the murder of 17-year-old Becky in July 1996. She was raped, tortured and stabbed to death in Ferry Reach while on holiday in Bermuda from her home in Belleville, Ontario.

Smith was charged with her murder, while his friend Kirk Mundy was charged with accessory after the fact.

Mundy received five years for his part, but Smith was acquitted by Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux, who deemed there to be insufficient evidence. That decision was later labelled "astonishing" by the Privy Council.