determine whether he should be tried as an adult for the alleged murder of an American man.

The 16-year-old could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted as an adult of murder two in the August beating to death of Michael Keesser, 20 in Dover, Delaware.

The judge is expected to rule today on the admissibility of his Police statement which was made in the absence of his mother Mrs. Dawn Madeiras.

The hearing over whether he and another 16-year-old charged in the August 19 murder will be tried as juveniles is expected to continue into next week with Judge N. Maxson Terry adjourning early due to Christmas commitments.

Kent County Superior Court heard yesterday the night Keesser was killed, guests at a party he was at were drinking from two kegs of beer and a half-gallon of whiskey.

The party was at Holder's house in celebration of a friend's birthday and many guests were under age.

Prosecutors are now trying to obtain Police records for Holder and his mother in Bermuda and the US after learning they were allegedly involved in marijuana dealings.

Holder's Bermudian father Mr. Charles Holder has remained in Dover, Delaware to be with his son.

If convicted and jailed as a juvenile, Holder would be released when he turned 18.

Holder's lawyer Mr. Andre Beauregard is arguing the state does not have enough evidence to prove his client killed Keesser.