A man who said he was an eyewitness to murder, yesterday told the Supreme Court that he was drunk when he made his Police statement.

Prosecution witness Antoine Tucker contradicted his statement to Police following the stabbing murder of Clarence Smith at the Southampton Rangers Club last February 20.

Tucker's statement before an eight-woman, four-man jury occurred shortly after the start of the trial of Ronae Burgess, who is accused of murdering Smith following a heated argument.

In the statement, given two days after the alleged stabbing, Tucker told Police he saw the accused approach Smith brandishing a knife in each hand.

"I saw him take the knives and stab in a downward fashion with Ronae coming forward with the knives.'' But yesterday he said Smith's body obscured his view and his previous statement was purely speculative. He also admitted he was extremely drunk at the time of the alleged stabbing.

Tucker, who is a long-time acquaintance of the accused, told the court he witnessed an argument between Smith and Burgess on the night of the incident.

"Ronae left the club and came back with his jacket on. They were saying offensive words to each other with a little pushing here and there. At that time I did not see the knives in his hands,'' he said. "Then he raised his arms in such a way to expose the knife blades. I did not actually see him stab him -- I saw Clarence advance towards him. Then he (Clarence) dressed (recoiled) back. He made the noise of someone being punched in the stomach. He back-pedalled in the passage and hit the telephone in the hallway.

"I saw a trail of blood going to the bathroom. I saw Clarence on the floor of the bathroom. He was just moaning but still conscious.'' The neighbour of the accused, Lisa Peace, told the court that Burgess admitted in a conversation immediately after the incident, he had stabbed someone.

"(Smith) had been provoking him all evening. He (Burgess) said he had an argument with (Smith) and stabbed him but he didn't mean to,'' she said.

"He said he came back with the knives to warn him to leave him alone -- to scare him off. He said (Smith) came forward and pushed himself onto the knife,'' she told the court.

Smith was taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he died from knife wounds.

Pathologist, Dr. John Winwick, told the court that the victim received two three-inch stab wounds which punctured his liver, left kidney, pancreas and large intestine.

Moderate force was used to inflict the injuries, he said. But he admitted after questioning by defence lawyer, Mr. Julian Hall, that Smith could have pushed his body onto the knives.

There were no lacerations on the hands or arms of the victim which indicated there had been no attempt to defend himself, he said.

The trial before the Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward, continues today. Mr. Brian Calhoun acts for the Crown. Mr. Julian Hall and Mr. Marc Telemaque represent the accused.