attempting to rob a middle-aged American couple at a Paget hotel.

Michael Bell, 40, and Herculano Arruda, 29, both of 1 Trews Apartment, Paget, face a total of seven charges between them.

It is alleged the two, masked and armed with a knife, attacked Joseph and Charlotte Banzer, both in their 50s, on November 27 at the White Sands Hotel on the night of November 27 and attempted to rob them.

Bell is further charged with unlawfully assaulting hotel night manager Mark Browne.

It is alleged Bell caused the night manager bodily harm and that he carried a knife with intent to commit a felony.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis told the two, who were not represented by lawyers, that they were not required to enter a plea and that they would be tried in Supreme Court.

Mr. Francis remanded them both in custody pending another appearance on December 16.

Mr. and Mrs. Banzer, of Ohio, were attacked in their room by two masked men around 9.30 p.m. after answering a knock at their door.

Mr. Browne was alerted by Mrs. Banzer's screams and rushed to their assistance.

The Ohio couple -- who cut short their holiday -- suffered minor bruises, while Mr. Browne suffered cuts to his head.

Yesterday Police made a fresh appeal for witnesses to the incident, particularly a driver who picked up a man at the traffic lights in Paget between 9.45 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. last Wednesday.

Officers also want to talk to another driver who picked up the same man around 11 p.m. on East Broadway and drove him to Paget.

The two drivers are not considered suspects.