The Prosecution closed its case yesterday in the manslaughter trial of Keniel Ingham, 29, and the accused man is expected to take the stand in his own defence on Monday.

Ingham denies that he killed 27-year-old Jermaine Pitcher with two other men - Ryan Ball and Jamal Robinson - during an early morning street fight outside a Hamilton night club in February of last year.

Both Ball and Robinson have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges. Ball was sentenced to ten years in prison and Robinson is awaiting sentencing.

Two Police officers - Terence Maxwell and Sylvester Augustine - who took a statement from Keniel Ingham while he was in hospital following the fight which led to Mr. Pitcher's death were the final two witnesses called by the Prosecution team of Dorien Taylor and Graveney Bannister.

Police Sergeant Terrence Maxwell told the court that he took a statement from Ingham on February 29, 2000 and, at the time, the defendant declined legal counsel.

DS Maxwell read the statement for the six-man, six-woman jury.

In it, Ingham claimed that he was not involved in the stabbing death of Pitcher but was a victim of the fights that were taking place on Reid Street that night, was stabbed and had fainted.

Ingham told the Police he had gone to the Spinning Wheel club with Ryan Ball on the night of February 26, 2000 but the two arrived late and decided to go to Ambassadors (now Champion's) night club when the bar closed.

"I think Knolly (Robinson) may have been there," Ingham told Police. "There were a couple of fights going on and the lights went on and off but I wasn't paying much attention."

Ingham told DS Maxwell he stayed to the end and then left the club.

"Outside there were a lot of fights happening (on Reid Street). Some guy swinging something came toward me and I grabbed him from the side and pinned his arms," he told Police.

"Someone else came up and hit me, I don't know if he was meaning to hit me and then I started to faint.

"I was chopped in the left arm but I didn't know I was stabbed until I got to the hospital.

"I don't know what happened to Ryan (Ball). I heard him a couple of times (sounding angry). Knolly (Robinson) stayed with me and supported me until the ambulance came."

Defence attorney Venous Telford had DS Maxwell look at a piece of metal tied to a rope which was found at the scene of the crime after Mr. Pitcher's death.

She asked DS Maxwell whether he would consider it an offensive weapon if someone was swinging it in the air.

He replied that it would depend on the circumstances. Ms Telford was then directed by Assistant Supreme Court Justice Archibald Warner that she was asking inappropriate questions.

Police Officer Sylvester Augustine was called simply to verify that he had been with DS Maxwell at the hospital while the statement was taken from Ingham.

The defence is expected to begin its case on Monday morning and Ingham will testify when the trial continues.