A film crew that planned to make a documentary on the brutal rape and murder of teenage Canadian tourist Becky Middleton in Bermuda in 1996 has been barred — because they might make the Island look bad.

The Canadian Cineflix production firm confirmed yesterday: “We were refused work permits and we were not able to reverse the decision.”

But a spokeswoman said: “We are moving forward with production and will be conducting all interviews outside of Bermuda.”

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy said last night: “Regarding the film crew’s request to visit, after carefully and extensively assessing the matter, we recognised there would be some potential reputational risks to Bermuda associated with the ultimate airing of this documentary.

“Based on the provisions under the law and at my discretion, a decision was made to decline their application for temporary work permits.”

Last night Rick Meens, who hosted Ms Middleton, a friend of his daughter Jasmine, when she visited the Island, said: “I am lost for words.”

“The child was brutally murdered and there has been no justice — the programme makers are just keeping the story alive. I don’t think you can fault any parent for wanting that. Had there been justice in the first place, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

And Mr Meens — who had been due to be interviewed on the Island for the programme — said he would travel overseas to film his segment.

He added: “Never, ever, have I said anything bad about this country and I certainly don’t encourage anyone else to do that. You can’t blame the country, you can’t blame the people of the country.”

But Mr Meens said: “The judicial system let Becky down — I don’t think there is any disputing that.”

The five-strong crew had been due to visit the Island to carry out interviews for the documentary, which will focus on the circumstances surrounding the killing of Ontario schoolgirl Ms Middleton, 17, at Ferry Reach in 1996.

Kirk Mundy, a Jamaican national, then 21, and Justis Smith, then 19, were arrested days after the killing.

Mundy pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact before forensic tests were completed and was jailed for five years.

The Privy Council later rejected a bid for his retrial on a murder charge, while the premeditated murder charge against Smith was thrown out of court after then-Justice Vincent Meerabux ruled there was no case to answer.

Mr Fahy said that under the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 1956, the Minister should “take particularly into account the protection of local interests” and “generally the requirements of the community as a whole.”

Psychologist Dr Carol Shuman, who wrote a book on the killing called ‘Kill Me Once ... Kill Me Twice: Murder on the Queen’s Playground’, said: “Of course, Bermuda Immigration has every right to make such a decision.

“However, this is not the first documentary made about the 1996 murder of Rebecca Middleton, but seemingly the first to run into such opposition.”

She added: “And does a refusal to allow professionals on the Island to cover the case amount to an effort for censorship? If so, I find that problematic.

“I believe firmly that Bermuda’s reputation would be far better served by transparency and judicial effort in the management of all cases.”

And Dr Shuman pointed out: “City Confidential (A & E Network) in the US continues to run the story on that network to this day; CCTV in Canada recently filmed in Bermuda, and an in-depth documentary followed.

“FOX News’ Greta Van Susteren covered the case in about 2006.

“It would concern me that the Immigration decision might simply turn the story of the murder into another, perhaps deeper, story.”

“Such a ruling would leave many considerations open.”

Dr Shuman, who is also due to appear in the Cineflix production, added she was also prepared to travel overseas to be interviewed.

Mr Fahy said: “The tragic events that took place 18 years ago marked a very dark time in Bermuda’s history.

“Since Rebecca Middleton’s death, considerable lessons were learned, particularly as it relates to our criminal justice system and as a result significant steps were taken from a legislative and police procedural standpoint to address any deficiencies in our system.”

The programme is part of Cineflix’s ‘Murder in Paradise’ series, which airs on the Discovery ID channel in the US and Slice Network in Canada.