confessed to lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall.

The shock admission adds fuel to the debate over taping Police interviews of suspects, sparked into life by the Watson murder trial verdict this week.

Mr. Marshall, who claimed Watson had been slapped and manhandled during interrogation, called after the trial for interviews to be recorded, either on audio or video tape.

He has been backed by fellow attorney Mr. Julian Hall MP, who believes a law introducing taping could be on its way.

Yesterday Mr. Marshall revealed: "One junior officer told me that if they have a suspect for the charge of rape, it's not unheard of for that suspect to be slapped around a little bit, because `after all, the person must be guilty'.

"And a senior officer told me that if we bring in legislation that requires tape recording, because of the inadequate training of local Police officers in Bermuda, they will mess it up.'' Milton Watson was sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter on Thursday, and may appeal.

Police Commissioner Mr. Lennie Edwards and Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon.

Sir John Sharpe yesterday declined to comment on the issue of taping interviews because the case was "still before the courts''.

But Mr. Marshall said: "There are many instances since I have been practising in Bermuda where people have maintained that they have merely given statements to the Police because of the unwarranted treatment they have received during their incarceration, and what they have told me is that once they are out they retract.

"I am sure there are cases where what is being said is questionable, and I'm sure, because of the volume of complaints that I know of, that some might be in fact legitimate.'' He said that in the UK it had been recognised that a system of handwritten Police records, like Bermuda's system, could lead to abuse.

"We have seen the Irish Republican Army cases where we see people convicted for crimes they didn't commit, when England had the same record-keeping we have now.

"Defence lawyers have been talking about this a long, long time, but Government just drag their feet on it.'' Mr. Marshall said taping interviews would give Police and suspects a "fair playing field''.

"If the Police get a confession under the taping system then the jurors are going to judge for themselves. You might have pleas instead of lengthy trials.'' Mr. Hall said the PLP had studied England's 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and had even drafted a law based on it. But party caucus had decided a bill would stand a better chance if it came out of the normal law reform process, with Government backing.

"I was beginning to get an impression that Government was moving in our direction, and beginning to accept that at least audio taping, if not videotaping, of Police interviews of suspects should be introduced into Bermuda now.

He added: "It was also a representation I made to Judge Tumim as part of the criminal justice review. He appeared to sound quite sympathetic.

"Hopefully, Government will be introducing legislation along these lines and we will certainly support it, as we have been calling for it for some years.''