youngster Joshua Holder to be admitted as evidence.

In the statement, Holder, 16, now living in Dover, Delaware, told police he kicked American Michael Keesser in the head once and punched him in the ribs the night he was beaten to death.

He also told police in his taped statement that he was involved in three other fights that night.

And he said: "It wasn't intent to kill. It was an accident...We weren't there to kill or nothing. We were out there to party.'' The party was at Holder's house and a witness testified yesterday that it started over Keesser's hitting Holder's mother, Mrs. Dawn Madeiras, also a Bermudian.

Holder's lawyer Mr. Andre Beauregard has tried to block his statement in his fight this week to have the teenager tried as a juvenile in family court.

The lawyer has argued that Holder's mother Mrs. Madeiras should have been present during the police interview.

Holder could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted as an adult of murder two in the August 19 beating to death of Keesser, 20, at a party at Mrs.

Madeiras' house.

Holder was charged with another 16-year-old and two 20-year-olds on August 20 with second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy.

County assistant medical examiner Ms Adrienne Perlman has told Kent County Superior Court that Keesser bled to death from a ripped spleen.

The hearing was adjourned yesterday afternoon because the judge was sick. It continues on Monday.