visitor Antja Herkommer is serving 10 years for rape, The Royal Gazette can reveal today.

He was interviewed after returning to his prison cell from a Dockyard project.

The disclosures came as a fierce political storm loomed over the Maritime Museum daylight murder.

Police said yesterday a Bermudian man would be appearing in court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a waitress told The Royal Gazette how she spoke to Miss Herkommer shortly before her death.

Miss Tanya Durham said the 27-year-old tourist appeared deeply depressed when she entered the Dockyard pub, The Frog and Onion, at midday on Thursday.

"She was miserable. It was as if her mind was elsewhere,'' she said.

Miss Durham said Miss Herkommer sat alone at a table for about 15 minutes, distinctive by her thick blue-rimmed spectacles and scruffy dress.

"She didn't buy anything, but asked for some information about a submarine.

We all thought it was odd she should come in alone.'' Miss Durham said a group of day-release prisoners had been working on a building inside the museum.

The body of Miss Herkommer was found by Police on Good Friday.

This afternoon it will be examined by forensic pathologist Dr. Richard Sheppard, of Guys Hospital, London.

"It is expected that the post mortem will be completed the same afternoon in order to identify the cause of death,'' Police spokesman Sgt. John Dale said yesterday.

"When the cause of death has been determined we anticipate taking further action.'' Sgt. Dale said an interim file on the investigation had been forwarded to the Attorney General's chambers.

He also renewed appeals for public help in the inquiry which had reached "a very delicate stage.'' Yesterday The Royal Gazette managed to piece together further details about Miss Herkommer and the investigation.

Authoritative sources confirmed the man in custody was on work detail from Casemates, and was unsupervised.

It is also believed restrictions have since been imposed on day-release programmes.

Miss Herkommer is now known to have flown over two weeks ago from Switzerland, where she worked as a school teacher.

She was visiting her sister, Christine, and was due to fly back the day after the murder.

Their parents live in a small village, Rechberg, just outside the southern German town of Schwabisch Gmund and around 60 kilometres from Stuttgart.

Yesterday Christine, who works at the Crisson jewellery store in Queen Street, Hamilton, said she was too distressed to talk at length.

"It's a very cruel thing that has happened,'' she said as she walked from her home off Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton.

She added: "If you have any feeling for me, please leave me alone.'' Christine, who was being comforted by a friend, confirmed her sister had gone alone to the museum.

The pair had arranged to meet up at 5 p.m. in front of a Front Street jewellery store.

Mr. George McLarnon, controller of the Queen Street Crisson store, said Christine had been employed recently.

"We will do as much as we can to relieve her of any burden at this time, including financially.'' Mr. McLarnon said the firm would help with the transfer of the body.

Police in Schwabisch Gmund said they were not involved in the murder investigation.

An eerie feeling hung around Dockyard yesterday afternoon as news of the horrific murder slowly sunk in.

A sign saying "closed today sorry'' was pinned to the gates of the museum. A solitary Police car was outside.

Two American visitors to The Frog and Onion, Ms Virginia McDermott and Ms Mary Boes, both spoke of the "tragedy'' and speculated on the impact on tourism.

"Where we come from, Philadelphia, there are about 500 murders a year, so you become hardened. It's still a shock, though,'' said Ms McDermott.

Political repercussions from the murder began yesterday with a call from outspoken Independent MP Harry Viera for an official apology to Miss Herkommer's family.

He said the Governor, Sir Desmond Langley, and the Premier, the Hon. Sir John Swan, should send a letter of sympathy.

"It is terrible that a woman coming over on holiday should meet a fate like this. I believe the German press will latch on to it,'' he said.

Prisons Commissioner Mr. Milton Pringle yesterday refused to deviate from the official line of information.

Asked whether he should consider resigning over the incident, he replied: "Not at all. Why should I?'' THE questioning of a Casemates prisoner in last week's murder is the latest in a rapid succession of blows to the reputation of the prison and its officers.

Mr. Milton Pringle, a career prison officer who became Commissioner in 1988, has publicly chastised his officers on a number of occasions, but each embarrassing incident was quickly followed by another.

January, 1990: Up to $10,000 in cash and personal property was stolen from Casemates Prison. Much of the property belonged to inmates, who are required to hand over belongings when entering the prison.

December, 1990: Toriano Dunkley outran prison guards at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was taken for a shoulder injury. He was captured a few days later.

June, 1991: A raunchy Father's Day strip show took place at the Prison Officers' Club. Two officers were subsequently fined in Magistrates' Court for exhibiting an indecent show in public.

July, 1991: Convicted murderer Troy Shorter escaped from Casemates and was not captured until December. An internal investigation pinpointed "areas of negligence'' and four officers were disciplined.

October, 1991: Jailed child-killer Chesterfield Johnson was caught with a prostitute in a pump room while receiving treatment at Addiction Services in Hamilton.

December, 1991: Toronto (Mackie) Darrell escaped from guards while walking into a Hamilton dentist's office for a fake appointment. He was recaptured the following week.

January, 1992: Police launched a manhunt for inmate Derrick Eugene DeShields after he failed to return from a day-release programme involving cleaning work at Dockyard. DeShields returned several hours later.