A Sandys teen convicted of possessing a penknife and pepper spray during a machete attack in Flatts was handed a suspended sentence on Friday.

Rasheed Muhammad, of Broome Street, pleaded guilty to possessing the items during the attack at the Flatts Village Barbershop on November 28, 2008.

The 19-year-old's lawyer, Larry Scott, maintained he only went into the barbershop to collect his friend and former co-accused, Earl Ingemann.

Ingemann, a heart transplant survivor, died after a New Year's Day crash in St. George's. A third man accused, Marico Bassett, pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney asked for his matters to lie on file and not be proceeded with.

The three, all from Sandys, were previously accused of wounding Al Rashid Ebbin with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that Mr. Ebbin was Ingemann's stepfather and the attack stemmed from a domestic dispute between the two.

Muhammad, who had no previous convictions, apologised for his part in the incident and asked the judge for leniency.

"I would like to ask for your forgiveness," he said. "I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am not a bad kid.

"I would like the chance to get my life together to go to school. I would like for you to give me the chance."

According to Mr. Mahoney, the maximum sentence for possessing an offensive weapon is four years imprisonment or a fine of $5,000. The maximum sentence for having a prohibited weapon is ten to 15 years.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said both terms were excessive. "This is not a gun you are talking about [but] some pepper spray."

Mr. Justice Greaves considered Muhammad's previous good character and his admission of guilt.

He said: "In all the circumstances I have come to the opinion that the appropriate sentence should not be one of incarceration at this time.

"I think that the sentence in this case should not be more than 18 months' imprisonment in respect to the prohibited weapon charge and six months in respect to the offensive weapon charge, both to run concurrently."

He continued: "I am of the view this sentence should be suspended for a period of three years. This defendant is in need, in my view, of some support in the community. That is another reason I think sentence should be suspended."

Mr. Justice Greaves further sentenced the teen to three years' probation and ordered him to stay away from drugs and alcohol and submit to random drug testing.

He told Muhammad to take part in life skills programmes and abide by a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"I don't want to see you again but if you want to see me all you have to do is mess up,"

"I know you do not want to do that. You have a good record here, keep it clean."