A man was yesterday cleared of grievous bodily harm and possessing a knife by a Supreme Court jury.

Marekco Ratteray, of North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish, was found not guilty by a five- woman, seven-man jury of wounding Shawn Bascome, 35, with a four-inch knife and possession of the knife on September 13.

The 23-year old was cleared of inflicting a two-to-three centimetre wound on Mr. Bascome at an incident on Rambling Lane, Pembroke causing him to be hospitalised for four days.

However, after three hours of deliberation, the jury found Ratteray guilty of a separate charge of possessing a folding knife a week later when he was arrested by Police in Par-La-Ville Park, Hamilton. The court heard during the four-day trial, Ratteray and Mr. Bascome allegedly got involved in a fight and during the scuffle, Mr. Bascome was stabbed.

During evidence, Mr. Bascome said he and Ratteray, who he referred to as "Reeko", started to fight after he did not speak to him and Ratteray pulled a knife out on him threatening to kill him.

He claimed he walked away, then realised he was bleeding profusely from his back.

Ratteray told the court Mr. Bascome threatened him and jumped him on three different occasions causing him to pull out the knife in self-defence.

He said he hoped Mr. Bascome would back down when he saw the knife but he came towards him and a scuffle began.

The defendant said the whole thing happened so fast and he did not intend to stab Mr. Bascome.

Ratteray also said he didn't know the knife he had was considered a bladed article under the new law because he believes that "if the blade is smaller than the width of your palm, it's fine". He also said he had the knife for work purposes.

However, Ratteray's boss, James Todd Weaver, owner of TCC Drywall, said the knife in question would not be used for cutting dry wall.

Mr. Woolridge said after the verdicts were read: "I think the verdicts on counts one and two are very fair in accordance with the evidence.

"I think it is unfortunate to take the evidence of the employer which is the core issue that convicted him on count three. That is our system and it's a fine system until something comes along that's better."

Ratteray was remanded pending sentencing. He will appear for mention at December arraignments.

Rick Woolridge represented the defendant and Robert Welling represented the Crown.