Bermuda and the Rebecca Middleton murder are set to be aired in an American documentary show.

The programme, called "City Confidential'', will be a one-hour film shown on the cable specialty (channel 32) A&E.

A film crew is expected on the Island next month and they will spend two weeks shooting the show, which is expected to be broadcast in the summer.

The news comes just over a week before an appeal in the high-profile murder case is scheduled to be heard.

The Court of Appeal is set to hear an appeal by the Crown against the decision by Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux to dismiss murder proceedings against Justis Smith.

"City Confidential'' became interested in the case after the acquittal in December, which caused controversy in Bermuda and in Canada.

Already a producer has visited the Island on a scouting mission, and has seen first hand the spot where vacationing 17-year-old Miss Middleton was found raped, abused and stabbed to death in July 1996.

The programme makers will focus on the killing but also intend to show Bermuda in a "warts and all'' travel feature.

A spokesman said the intention was to give the viewers a real insight into Bermuda, showing the Island as a whole -- not just the tourist sights.

It will look at the history of the Island, its people and what kind of place it is today.

In addition, it is expected to carry interviews with a wide variety of people from all walks of Bermudian life -- from expatriates to locals and officials.

It is anticipated that the show will carry interviews with the parents of the Canadian teenager, Cindy and David Middleton of Belleville, Ontario.

David Middleton will be on the Island for the appeal, which is set to start on March 30 and run for four days.

During the hearing, acting Attorney General and Solicitor General William Pearce and Crown counsel Peter Eccles will argue against the no case ruling made on the grounds of insufficient evidence and that there had been an abuse of process.

They will face local lawyer Elizabeth Christopher and London-based Queen's Counsel John Perry.

Justis Smith was charged with murder and Kirk Mundy, a Jamaican, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact in a deal worked out with the Attorney General's chambers.

A bid to have Mundy re-charged with premeditated murder failed after ending up at the Privy Council in London.