An American tourist who was almost paralysed when a mentally-ill man stabbed him in cold blood hopes his attacker will get the help he needs.

Lorenzo Robinson, a paranoid schizophrenic, knifed Scott Jable in the back with a six inch blade in broad daylight on Front Street in 2002.

Aged 24 at the time, Robinson claimed to have acted after hearing the voice of Osama Bin Laden. He was acquitted of attempted murder on the grounds of insanity and sent to a maximum security hospital cell at Westgate.

However, the prisoner complained that these conditions are unsuitable. Last week, he won recognition from the Chief Justice that he needs treatment in a secure psychiatric unit of a type Bermuda does not have.

Speaking out after the news,Mr. Jable, 43, from Chicago, told The Royal Gazette: "It is my understanding that Mr. Robinson has continued to have difficulties at Westgate following his attack on me, including stabbing a guard with a sharpened toothbrush and testing positive for cannabis.

"I have further been made aware that he continues the bizarre actions that convinced a judge that he was mentally ill five years ago. Obviously, he is a very troubled and dangerous young man. I have the scar to prove it

."The important question is – can Mr. Robinson be helped or even cured if he is put into the proper environment – an environment obviously lacking at Westgate or anywhere in Bermuda, from what I have read in your publication.

"He is obviously violent and, according to the Gazette's headline following his trial, 'Nutty as a Fruitcake'. But is he beyond help? Only highly qualified doctors can answer that

."It is my strong hope that another thorough examination of Mr. Robinson be made by such highly qualified psychiatrists to make this determination before any decision on his future is made.

"Father-of-two Mr. Jable said he will never fully recover from his injury, which causes daily pain and has stopped him from running and working out like he used to. While he can still play golf, he restricts this to a few times a year as the consequences are always painful.

Despite the lasting impact of the attack, his feelings of anger toward Robinson have lessened over the years as he has learned more about him

"If it is determined that he can be helped, he should be given the chance to receive the kind of treatment that would allow him a normal life. From what I know of Mr. Robinson, he has been troubled since childhood, due to a difficult upbringing by a drug-addicted mother. With a history such as his, he may indeed be beyond hope. If that is the case, the last thing Bermuda needs and the last thing I want to see is a free Lorenzo Robinson.

"However, if a treatment is available that would absolutely cure Mr. Robinson of his deep mental illnesses, the people of Bermuda should give every consideration to providing this to him," he said.

"Should Bermuda build a facility equipped to handle the dangerous and mentally ill like Mr. Robinson? Only the people of Bermuda can make that decision. However, some avenue to cure he and others like him should be available."

In last week's ruling, Chief Justice Richard Ground branded the conditions Robinson is kept in at Westgate as unacceptable, and highlighted the need for specialist facilities. He also urged Governor Richard Gozney to consider sending Robinson for treatment overseas.

In his reaction to the news, Commissioner of Prisons Edward Lamb said efforts to implement the much-needed unit are underway. In the meantime, he said, prison staff are doing the best they can to manage "a difficult situation."

In an update on Friday, he reported: "Mr Robinson continues to receive medical, psychiatric and custodial care. He was seen this week by our psychiatrist as a matter of routine. On this occasion, Robinson was lucid and we continue to diligently monitor his behaviour and health."

The Royal Gazette asked Minister of Home Affairs David Burch for information on future plans for Mr. Robinson and for the implementation of a specialist facility.

In a statement, he said he could appreciate the public interest in the matter. However, he described it as a "very sensitive situation" and said he would refrain from discussing the specifics of an inmate "whose circumstance and family deserve some type of privac

Sen. Burch added:"Efforts to satisfactorily correct the incarceration of mentally ill inmates at the Westgate Correctional Facility and transition them to a properly managed facility are receiving the highest priority of both this Ministry and the Ministry of Health."