A man accused of murdering 14-year-old Rhiana Moore appeared at Magistrates' Court yesterday afternoon amid tight security.

Ze Menefeskiduse Selassie, 32, remained impassive as Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner read the charge alleging: "On or about May 30, 2008 you, with premeditation, did murder Rhiana Ashley Marie Moore."

The teenager's body was found in the mangroves at Blue Hole Hill Park nature reserve on Saturday morning hours after she'd attended a youth meeting at her church, the Radnor Road Christian Fellowship, on Friday evening.

Selassie, of Battery Road, St. George's parish, was arrested later on Saturday. He appeared in court yesterday dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt bearing the words "affliction" and "live east". He wore no handcuffs but was flanked by two detectives.

Selassie did not speak during his three-minute court appearance and was not required to enter a plea, as the matter must be dealt with at Supreme Court.

His lawyer Elizabeth Christopher made no application for bail, and he was remanded into custody at the request of Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale until an administrative hearing on June 19.

A few minutes before the defendant arrived at court at 4.10 p.m, a team of Police officers locked the main door to the building and lined the courtroom inside and out. Dozens of their colleagues monitored the outside of the building, where a large crowd had congregated along Court Street and Reid Street.

Selassie arrived in an unmarked Police car with tinted windows and was escorted into and out of the courthouse through a basement entrance at the rear.

Police motorcyclists brought traffic on Reid Street to a halt as the motorcade swept off to Westgate after the court hearing.

Rhiana's father, Rohan Moore, was one of few members of the public joining the lawyers, Police officers and journalists inside the courtroom yesterday.

A former Bermuda Police officer who now lives in Barbados, Mr. Moore was accompanied by two friends during the hearing and greeted with hugs and condolences from well-wishers as he left.

He told The Royal Gazette: "It's just an experience you cannot explain. I'm just trying to come to terms with things. I want to thank the members of the public for coming forward and giving their support."