Emotions ran high in the aftermath of the decision to find Justis Smith not guilty of the premeditated murder of Rebecca Middleton.

A packed courtroom heard Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux rule there was no case to answer after delivering his decision over a 55-minute period.

There were cheers from some of Smith's supporters in the public gallery and anger from friends of the Middletons, Cindy and David, who had sat throughout the ruling. Rick Meens, whose daughter Jasmine Meens was with Rebecca Middleton on the night she died, shouted a warning at Justis Smith and was involved in an angry confrontation with defence counsel John Perry QC shortly after.

He said it was a "f**king travesty of justice''.

Cindy Middleton left the courtroom immediately after the ruling but David Middleton spoke of his feelings.

He said: "I am very disappointed with the way it went and am not at all happy with the decision.

"I don't think it is fair. I think the facts of the murder ...we know what happened -- we know who did it. It was not the way we expected it to go.'' Mr. Middleton, who had sat through the entire trial, said he doubted whether he personally would call for an inquiry but said he knew there were people that would.

He said he knew it was a difficult case to proceed with and part of that reason was that it was overshadowed by the Kirk Mundy situation -- when the Crown had tried to charge him with murder at a later date but failed.

And he said, with regard to the former Attorney General Elliott Mottley, people could draw their own conclusions in respect to his departure from Bermuda a few days ago.

"The last time I spoke to Mr. Mottley, it was my understanding that he was going to prosecute the case and he felt they had a very good chance of conviction.

"And not too long ago I find that he wasn't prosecuting the case. And you can tell with the whereabouts of the former Attorney General now, people can draw their own inferences. "He was the man at the top, now he isn't here.

"From the day I arrived in Bermuda, people have said that this type of crime needs to be addressed. I think we have a number of people here who think this didn't happen -- it really did happen.'' Later, Solicitor General Bill Pearce spoke of his feelings for the Middleton family following the decision.

"I feel great sympathy for the Middletons at this time. I am sure they are disappointed in the justice system in Bermuda, both with respect to Kirk Mundy and Justis Smith.'' Justis Smith's father, Richard, left the court in a hurry but made a brief comment.

He said: "Everyone knew he didn't do it. I know how they (the Middletons) feel, I feel sorry for them. If the law was done right the first time, they wouldn't have had this problem.'' Archie Warner, a member of the defence team, said the Crown was warned about their actions from the very beginning of the case, he said it was "cock-up after cock-up''.

He said it was unfortunate that the crime put Bermuda in such a negative light.

"The only consolation for the Middletons could be that the Crown's case has been aired in open court and the facts with regard to our client were exposed and duly indicated that he had no case to answer.'' He said the wrong man was charged for expedient and political reasons at the time.