The prosecution case in the Rebecca Middleton murder trial concluded with more outbursts from the defence team.

There were accusations of submitting "idiotic evidence'' and personal jibes at Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus during the day.

Following the conclusion of the Crown's evidence, the jury were sent away until Monday morning whilst legal submissions ensued between the lawyers and Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux.

Solicitor General William Pearce QC and Crown counsel Miss Bacchus finished presenting the evidence to support their case against Justis Smith, who is accused of premeditated murder.

Smith, 19, of Deepdale Road East, Pembroke, pleads not guilty to premeditated murder.

Before the Crown ended their presentation, which has lasted over 12 days, they were criticised by the defence team of John Perry QC and Archie Warner.

Miss Bacchus was conducting her examination in chief of storekeepers and managers, on whether or not knives like the ones found at Justis Smith's home were sold in their stores.

During the fourth witness, from Maximart, Archibald Warner objected to the procedure as there appeared to be some confusion in the evidence the representative was to give.

Mr. Warner said: "This is idiotic evidence. She is bringing witnesses here and doesn't know what he intends to say.'' Mr. Justice Meerabux warned him to "watch his language'', and subsequently he apologised.

Mr. Perry added: "If Sandra Bacchus was doing her job properly she should get rid of these witnesses and get on with the next one... in this charade.'' The witness said he had never seen the knives before but under cross examination from Mr. Warner, admitted that he did not start work at the store until after the July 3, 1996 murder.

The defence team also objected to one witness, who was a replacement for another member of a store's staff, who they said they had not been warned about.

Sandra Bacchus offered to stand the witness down which prompted Mr. Warner to say "if she is in Bermuda to be taught, we will teach her''.

Other witnesses testified -- along with a selection previously in the trial -- that they had not sold the knives or seen the brand before.

But the defence team asserted that it was not an exhaustive list of stores which sold knives and that there were other methods of getting knives in Bermuda, for instance from shopping abroad.

Later, Dr. Keith Cunningham, a clinical pathologist from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, confirmed his part in the autopsy of Rebecca Middleton in relation to the injuries she suffered during the sexual assault.

He concluded there was bruising in and around her vaginal area and a small laceration which could have been caused by a fingernail.

Legal discussions are expected to continue today and the jury will return on Monday.