A Canadian Federal Cabinet Minister has refused to condemn Bermuda's justice system, despite the collapse of the Rebecca Middleton murder trial.

And Lyle Vanclief, a federal Liberal MP for Rebecca's home town of Belleville, Ontario, said he would not officially support an inquiry into what went wrong.

Mr. Vanclief said he would not give extensive comments because the decision to free murder accused Justis Smith was to be appealed.

He told The Royal Gazette : "I do not wish to comment on the justice system in any country and I certainly, along with all the people in Bermuda and Canada, share the loss of Becky Middleton with her family and friends.

"I also share the desire of people in Bermuda and Canada that anyone who commits a criminal act should be brought to justice.

"I will not comment any further than that. It is my understanding that there is consideration of an appeal, so the way the case is dealt with within the justice system is not something I can comment on.'' Appeal expected in murder case Mr. Middleton left Bermuda yesterday for Toronto via Philadelphia.

He is already pushing for changes to the Island's justice system after nobody was convicted of his 17-year-old daughter's murder.

Trial defendant Justis Smith is now a free man after the judge ruled there was no case to answer against him because of insufficient evidence and an "abuse of process'' by the Crown.

Co-accused Kirk Mundy is serving five years for being an accessory after the fact -- and the Crown failed with a late bid to charge him with murder.

Mr. Middleton said he hoped the appeal would be heard quickly, possibly at the Spring session of the Court of Appeal.

COURTS CTS