yesterday by a Supreme Court jury of unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.

Johnston, 40, of Warwick, was acquitted on the more serious charge of wounding 24-year-old Frederick Richardson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

After deliberating 90 minutes, the five-woman, seven-man jury was unable to render a unanimous verdict on any of the counts.

Ten jurors found Johnston not guilty of wounding with intent. On the second count, nine jurors found Johnston guilty of unlawful wounding. On the third charge 11 jurors found Johnston guilty of possessing an offensive weapon. He is to be sentenced today.

The charges stem from an October 13, 1995, incident at the Devonshire Recreational Club. Police were called there shortly before midnight following reports of a stabbing. They found Richardson unconscious on the floor of the bar, lying in a pool of blood.

Witnesses said Richardson, upset when Johnston began closing the bar early, became verbally abusive and threatening and at one point came behind the bar and punched Johnston, who retaliated by stabbing Richardson three times with a small fruit knife that was behind the bar.