The father of a murdered teenager's friend said last night he hoped detectives can quickly close the case on the killing.

Rick Meens, whose daughter Jasmine was with Rebecca Middleton before the murder, said the whole family was still suffering from the slaying.

"It is time to bring the whole thing to a close. It was a very unfortunate crime that took the life of a promising, sweet young lady,'' said Mr. Meens.

He added: "Jasmine is still taking it pretty hard. The whole family has taken it pretty hard. It is devastating for it to happen to anyone.

"We are all suffering from this and we are all very sympathetic to Rebecca's family. It is a very difficult time.'' Seventeen-year-old Ms Middleton, of Belleville, Ontario, was found naked and stabbed to death in deserted Ferry Road in the early hours of Wednesday, July 3.

It is understood that earlier in the evening the two girls were at a Policeman's house.

The Royal Gazette has learned that Ms Middleton and Ms Meens went to the house where they knew some friends.

They twice called a taxi from the house and the second time were asked by a taxi driver to wait outside until he arrived, so the driver was sure of getting the correct address.

It is understood they waited outside the house for some time, but were not able to get a taxi.

They were seen sitting on a wall on Mullett Bay Road and eventually it appears that Ms Meens was given a lift to her Smith's Parish home on one bike and Ms Middleton went on another bike, with two men.

Her body was found on Ferry Road by passers-by in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses said she had been stabbed and her throat had been cut.

Police confirmed she had been sexually assaulted.

Exactly a week after the killing Police arrested two Pembroke Parish men -- a 17-year-old and 21-year-old -- in connection with the murder.

The arrests were made 24 hours after a $10,000 reward was made for information leading to the conviction of the people responsible for the murder.

Last night officers were still questioning the two men and it is understood an officer flew to Canada yesterday with samples for testing by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ottawa, which is carrying out DNA testing for Bermuda officers.

Police could not be reached for comment last night to confirm reports that an indentity parade is due to be held today.

It is not known whether Ms. Meens would be called on for an ID parade, but last night Mr. Meens said: "I haven't been told about a line-up. I don't know anything about it.'' Meanwhile Technology and Information Minister, John Barritt, hit back at criticism that not enough information was released by Police or Government on the murder to help reassure Bermudians and Canadians.

"When a crime of this nature occurs in a place like Bermuda, it is inevitable that some damage will be done to our image abroad and, perhaps, to our image of ourselves,'' said Mr. Barritt. "This is not a time when Bermudians should be looking around and blaming each other for what has happened in a frenzy of self-flagellation.'' Dr. Ian Campbell says any cheques should be made out in the name of the Rebecca Middleton Scholarship Trust Account, not in his name as stated by Government yesterday.