The Rhiana Moore murder case has prompted calls for Bermuda to implement a sexual offenders' register.

Ze Selassie, who was found guilty of the killing yesterday, was already a convicted rapist with a long history of crimes against women when he sexually exploited and murdered the 14-year-old.

As detailed elsewhere in today's edition of The Royal Gazette, he drugged and raped a woman in her own home ten years ago. He was later jailed for six years, but released on parole just two years later.

Prior to that crime, he had been convicted of a string of offences against women, including prowling around women's' residences and trespassing in a woman's home.

However, this newspaper understands from sources close to the latest case that Selassie was not being monitored by the authorities when he began preying on Rhiana Moore.

By his own admission, his victim was 13 years old when he began a sexual relationship with her. She soon became pregnant with his child, and prosecutors believe he killed her in a bid to stop their illegal sexual relationship coming to light.

Speaking out after Selassie was convicted of the murder yesterday, Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, an activist for women and children's rights, expressed concern that although the authorities knew of Selassie's previous convictions, the wider public may not have been aware of his history.

She said that along with counselling and educating such criminals, she would like to see the establishment of a sex offenders' register such as exists in the US and UK. The register allows members of the local community to be notified when such an offender is living in their midst.

"I have, for a long time, been an advocate for knowledge and awareness as it pertains to paedophiles," she said. "Despite my support for human rights, it is the right of any community to be protected and to protect themselves within the jurisdiction of the law."

Mrs. Roberts-Holshouser, who is a former Shadow Minister for women and children, added: "To this point, society must become serious as to how we address child offenders and sexual offenders do we protect their identities or do we protect the innocent and the next potential victim? Regardless of the outcome of this case, changes must be made."

Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief agreed, but went one step further suggesting such offenders should be banished from Bermuda in some cases.

"Jurisdictions in the USA, Canada and the UK do a far better job of monitoring and treating their sex offenders than we currently are doing in this respect," he claimed. "Bermuda's smallness is paradoxical. It permits us to know our offenders almost at a glance and they are forever remembered.

"On the other hand, upon release it is difficult to 'house' these offenders particularly because everybody in every neighbourhood knows them.

"Accordingly, depending on the severity of their malady, our Government may have to seriously consider transporting these offenders to overseas jurisdictions for further assessment (and) for the general safety of our community."

Elaine Williams, executive director of the Women's Resource Centre, said: "We are saddened and most disturbed by the tragic loss of life of young Rhiana Moore and her unborn child, and the violent nature of her death.

"On behalf of the WRC, I would like to express our sincere sympathy and support to her family. The general public may not understand the fear and degradation commonly experienced by women who are abused by their intimate partners, and the level of control which an offender has over his victim.In this tragic situation, the offender, an adult male, targeted a young teen over who he would exercise power and control."

Ms Williams called for additional measures to be put in place when it comes to treating and rehabilitating such offenders. "It is our understanding that upon discharge from prison, offenders may receive follow up sexual offenders' treatment with Court Services; however this treatment is not mandatory," she said.

"Perhaps by making the treatment mandatory, and through a system of continual post-treatment reporting and monitoring, especially for repeat offenders, there may be a greater rate of successful rehabilitation and a coinciding reduction in the number of cases of sexual assault, domestic violence and murder."

She also backed the idea of a sex offenders' register.

"We believe that such a register could greatly assist the community in identifying and keeping tabs on repeat offenders. We intend to advocate for a sexual offenders' register, and legislation to make post-release continuing sexual therapy mandatory.

"Of course, we realise the right of an offender to lead a productive life, and that right may be challenged in such a small community as ours. What's most important however is that members of community are protected from those who are repeat offenders of such vile behaviours."

She added: "It will take a community effort to decrease the numbers of these occurrences which as you have seen has been on the increase. Everyone has to do their part. The responsibility to protect our families does not belong to the Police or the legislation, after the fact. We need to be honest with those who are offenders, urge them to get help and report them to appropriate agencies if necessary."

Sheelagh Cooper, a criminologist and executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children also backed the idea of a register, but stressed that this is not a "panacea" and additional measures are needed, such as mandatory minimum sentences for violent sexual offenders. Mrs. Cooper said that after this, offenders should receive counselling in prison and be made to participate in a "relapse prevention" programme upon release.

Senator Jeanne Atherden, who has the shadow portfolio for community and cultural affairs and social rehabilitation, agreed. She said offenders should not be released until they've undergone adequate counselling in prison, and there should be a community-based sexual offenders' programme to support them when they are released.

She called for the authorities to keep full records on re-offending, to indicate whether such measures are effective.