In a sentencing session wracked with emotion, tears and anger, Ryan Rudolph Ball was sent to prison for 10 years yesterday for the killing of Jermaine `Red' Pitcher outside Champion's Sports Club last February.

Pitcher was 27 years old when he was stabbed to death on Reid Street in the early hours of February 27, 2000. The court heard yesterday the death arose during a "fracas'' between two groups of young men.

Prosecutor Dorien Taylor told the court that three men had Mr. Pitcher -- who was armed only with a metal slingshot -- trapped and Ball stabbed Mr. Pitcher with what appeared to be a machete several times.

There were reportedly dozens of onlookers when the fight -- which was believed to be drug related -- originally broke out in front of the former Ambassador's nightclub. But the crowd scattered as the clash turned bloody.

Pitcher was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. Ball was also taken to KEMH that same night with life threatening stab wounds. Ball's lawyer Mark Pettingill told the court that Ball is uncertain how he came to be stabbed and cannot remember the details of the fight which lead to Mr. Pitcher's death.

Victim's mother says courts too soft on killers, Page 2 Tearful killer jailed 10 years Over the course of the session, Ball's family reached out to the family of Mr.

Pitcher offering apologies, prayers and shared sorrow for the death of their relative. Two of Ball's uncles -- one of whom flew in specially from Washington State -- and former UBP MP Quinton Edness offered testimony on Ball's character and the extent of his remorse.

Ball too offered apologies and condolences to the Pitcher family.

"I'd like to say sorry to the family of Jermaine Pitcher and my family as well. What happened was never intended. This experience of my nearly dying and waking up to see my own wrong doing has taught me a lot,'' said Ball as his voice cracked with tears.

"I can only imagine how Mrs. Pitcher (Pitcher's mother Goldie O'Neil) is feeling. I can only imagine how this hurts you all.

"I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day because I'm not really this kind of person.'' "I never intended for this to happen and I'm sorry,'' he added as he collapsed in his seat and cradled his head in his hands.

Ball, 28, of Rock Valley Lane, Warwick, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January of this year. He and two other men -- Keniel Alfred Ingham and Jamal Chicke Robinson -- were originally charged with murder in the death of Mr.

Pitcher. Ingham and Robinson are now awaiting trial on manslaughter charges.

Mr. Pettingill said that Ball was not carrying a knife when he went out on that long and tragic night. "How he came by (the knife) remains in a haze,'' he said.

Justice Ward however pointed out, according to the summary of evidence, it was Ball who stabbed Mr. Pitcher in the back with a machete and punctured a lung.

Mr. Pettingill argued that the true picture of what happened that night is still unclear and at this point all the court knows is "portions pulled out of quite a long evening.

"In this case as opposed to all others,'' Mr. Pettingill continued, "Ryan Ball carries a weight of remorse and guilt.'' During the February arraignments session of this year, Ball tried to take sole responsibility for the death of Mr. Pitcher. He declared "my co-accused are innocent'' to Chief Justice Austin Ward against the objections of defence counsel.

On sentencing yesterday, however, he made no reference to Ingham or Robinson.

Ball's uncles -- Rev. Calvin J. Ball of Washington and Eugene Ball of Bermuda -- both clergymen, testified that the action was out of character for Ball who they knew as a respectful and hardworking young man.

Similarly Quinton Edness said that he had "known Ryan since he was a child'' and had even admired his generosity as a person.

"I plead mercy and leniency for this young man's life although I don't want to belittle in any way there has been a loss of life,'' said Mr. Edness.

Mr. Justice Ward dismissed the court for three hours in order to contemplate on the sentencing.

When court resumed in the afternoon, he said that he understood members of Mr.

Pitcher's family wanted to make victim's impact statements. However, he said that these should have been included in the Prosecution's summary of evidence and declined to hear these submissions at this stage of sentencing.

Mr. Justice Ward said that in sentencing he had taken into account Ball's remorse, the statements toward his character and that Ball too had sustained life threatening injuries in the incident.

"I accept that this is out of character for you,'' he said. "I accept the death was not intentional however the unlawful death of one person at the hands of another is always a serious crime.'' Mr. Justice Ward sentenced Ball to 10 years, taking into account time spent in custody.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life in prison and the Director of Public Prosecution's office had suggested a sentence of 14 years for Ball.