live soap opera.

With Bermudians glued to their TV sets, workplaces and homes fell briefly silent yesterday: Long enough for two words -- "Not Guilty''.

For some, yesterday's acquittal of American football legend OJ Simpson after a sensational double murder trial signalled party time; the verdict was greeted by whoops of joy and "Right on, OJ. We were with you!'' "OJ's just got off!'' a Bank of Butterfield teller exclaimed, touching off a wave of excited chatter among the long lunchtime queue.

And in Bailey's Bay, OJ fans let their hair down, brandishing a hastily-made roadside banner proclaiming, "OJ's Free, Party's On.'' In other places, however, a hush descended as the jury forewoman spoke.

At the Robin Hood pub and restaurant in Richmond Road, Pembroke, the mainly white crowd sat in stunned and moody silence, although the final act of the "trial of the century'' had the management rubbing their hands.

"It's the best crowd we've had since Manchester United last played,'' said one manager.

Unsurprisingly, Bermuda's legal eagles took a more sober look at the verdicts handed down in Los Angeles yesterday on the former star, who had been charged with taking a knife to the throats of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

But while sober, there was a split on whether the jury got it right.

Outspoken former Attorney General Mr. Saul Froomkin said he was appalled at the verdict because it "did not represent the evidence that I saw''.

"I cannot conceive how any jury could have come to that verdict, obviously some factor other than the law and evidence was guiding them.'' Mr. Froomkin added: "I was embarrassed to be a lawyer in view of the way the defence conducted themselves throughout the trial and I was thoroughly disappointed at what was reported to be the administration of justice in the US as represented by that trial.'' Mr. Larry Scott, however, took a different stance, saying the trial proved the success of the jury system.

"What surprised me was the fact that the prosecutor Chris Dardon broke down and was unable to deal with the media which led me to believe that he became too involved in the case.

"That seems to be the position of all the prosecutors.'' He added: "You cannot find the whole absolute truth in any case and that is why it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt and we have to live by the results.

"I was happy that OJ was found not guilty because of the time line argument.

It was impossible for him to commit the crime within that time frame.'' Mr. Paul King said that OJ may have committed the murders but, the jury could not be sure based on the evidence.

Women's group leaders were low-key in their response yesterday.

They doffed their hats to the jury, accepting the verdict, even if they disagreed with it.

Chairperson of the Women's Resource Centre, Miss Toni Daniels, said: "I think that the decision was probably based on the evidence presented to the jury.''