A murder suspect accused of stabbing a Canadian teenager to death will finally face trial in February -- after 18 months as a remand prisoner.

Justis Raham Smith appeared at the Supreme Court arraignments session yesterday to hear a trial date would be decided on January 12.

The 18-year-old, who wore an orange regulation prison uniform in the dock, is accused of murdering Rebecca Middleton in July 1996.

Rebecca, 17, was on holiday in Bermuda from Belleville, Ontario.

She was found with fatal stab wounds on Ferry Reach, St. George's, after a night out with a friend.

Chief Justice Austin Ward yesterday ruled Smith's trial would take place in February, probably on February 3.

Smith, of Deepdale Road, Pembroke, simply answered "yes'' to confirm his name in court. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and was remanded in custody after yesterday's five-minute hearing.

Chief Justice Ward also told two suspected bank robbers they would have to reappear in court on December 1.

Randolph Granville Lightbourne, of Devonshire, and Reid Henry Jones, 24, of Sandys, have both pleaded not guilty to armed robbery at the Bank of Butterfield's Somerset branch on July 8.

Lightbourne, 31, denied using a Colt .45 automatic pistol to steal $70,000 during the raid.

He has also denied two charges of unlawful wounding during the robbery.

Chief Justice Ward remanded the pair in custody and said a trial date would be fixed on December 1.

Stephen Wilfred Pitt, 44, appeared at the court accused of receiving stolen goods, including a chainsaw, 73 cans of soda and 26 bottles of wine.

Prosecutors claimed the drinks had been stolen from the Portuguese Cultural Association's offices on Laffan Street, Pembroke.

Pitt, of Alexandria Road, Devonshire, was also accused of receiving a stolen Stanley chainsaw. He denied all charges.

Suspected drugs supplier Eugene Levi Robinson, who was arrested during Operation Cleansweep in May, was yesterday told his trial would take place later this month.

Robinson, 29, of Bobs Valley Lane, Sandys, pleaded not guilty to supplying "small amounts'' of cannabis on May 10 and May 11. He will be given 72 hours' notice of his trial.

Four men accused of attempted murder also appeared at Supreme Court yesterday -- and were ordered to reappear on November 21.

Frederick Norris Lee, 28, of Spanish Point, Pembroke; Charles Maxwell Warren, 27, of Rambling Lane, Pembroke; Kendrick Winslow Zuill, 19, and Kenneth Jamel Zuill, 24, both of Deepdale Road, Pembroke, have pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Roger Lightbourne on October 30 in the Mount Hill area.

All four have each been remanded on $10,000 bail. Trevor Morain, from Grenada, and Alvin Francois, of St. Lucia, both charged with conspiring to import $60,000 worth of cannabis, will reappear at the Supreme Court on November 17.

Their trial is likely to take place two days later.

Chief Justice Ward will deliver his sentence against Micah Lee Straw on November 14.

Straw, of Palmetto Road, Devonshire, has pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and possessing a crowbar.

A charge of attempted murder has been allowed to lie on the file and the court is awaiting social inquiry reports.

Herculano Arruda, 29, will be sentenced on the same day after pleading guilty to robbing an American couple at a Paget hotel.

And Calvin Leroy Simmons, 38, will also be sentenced on November 14 after admitting a serious sexual assault on June 23.

The trial of 31-year-old Parris Mark Smith, of Friswell's Hill, Pembroke, starts today. He has been accused of growing cannabis.

But Kenneth Rupert Alexander Robinson, who denies assault, bodily harm and unlawfully possessing a knife, has to wait until next Monday for his trial.

Robinson, alleged to have attacked Katherine Leslie, is still on $2,500 bail.

Trevor Donovan Simons, who has denied five charges of supplying cocaine, was remanded in custody until his trial on November 24.

And Vicki Lynn Maiato, charged with possession of cannabis, will be given 72 hours' notice for her trial some time this month.

MURDERED -- Rebecca Middleton