day he was arrested, a court heard yesterday.

Kenneth Robinson, 54, was said to have been "fixated'' with his alleged victim, 25-year-old Katherine Leslie.

But the defendant, who is representing himself, succeeded in persuading the judge to dismiss one charge against him during his Supreme Court trial yesterday.

Chief Justice Austin Ward ordered the jury to deliver a not guilty verdict on a charge of depriving Miss Leslie of her liberty because of lack of evidence.

Robinson has already pleaded not guilty to unlawfully possessing a knife and assault causing bodily harm.

He is said to have cut Miss Leslie on the forearm during a midnight struggle in January, 1996.

And the detective who led the inquiry told the court that Robinson even wanted to marry his victim.

Det. Sgt. Anselm Kirby said he arrested Robinson at his home on Hillview Road, Warwick, two weeks after the incident.

The officer added: "At first he said: `You have interrupted my day'.

"I asked what he meant and he said he was going to be on his knees. He explained that he was actually going to propose to the victim.

"He appeared fixated with her. But when I asked him about their relationship, he said: `We were just friends, put it that way.' '' Robinson is said to have held a serrated, long-bladed knife to Miss Leslie's throat as she returned home to Tele Lane, Warwick, following a night out.

He is said to have told her he knew where her scooter was after it had been stolen the night before.

And the Crown alleged he marched her to the spot on Tribe Road No. 6 where the red Honda City Express was covered in tall grass.

Robinson, who cross-examined Miss Leslie for 35 minutes on Monday, argued in court that Police had fabricated statements he is alleged to have made.

He also questioned why a coat worn by Miss Leslie on the night of the incident, which was apparently slashed in the sleeve, was never presented as evidence.

And he said he wanted to subpoena the woman Detective constable who took the first statement from Miss Leslie, a fashion student now living at home in London.

Det. Sgt. Kirby read Robinson's Police statement in full, in which the accused said he got to know Miss Leslie by walking with her to the bus stop.

In the statement, Robinson is quoted saying: "It was a friendly thing. We were just good friends, put it that way.

"Occasionally I would just walk down the street with her to the shop. I would also go to the house and visit her. I wasn't intimate with her.'' Det. Sgt. Kirby said he asked Robinson why he used a knife, adding that it may have been seen as a weapon to use during a rape.

But in the statement, Robinson said: "The only thing I want to say about that is that it was bad judgment on my part.

"I definitely had no criminal intent.'' Robinson, who said he wore an orange hooded top and gloves during the incident, denied he stole Miss Leslie's moped in a bid to lure her into the bushes.

Robinson claimed he had seen three men wheeling the bike away the night before.

And cross-examining Det. Sgt. Kirby, he asked why it had taken two weeks for Police to arrest him after the complaint was made.

The officer said: "Any number of reasons -- sometimes the constraints of work. I can't give any specific reason at this time.'' The trial resumes today.