morning, a Supreme Court judge said yesterday.

Puisne Judge Mr. Justice Ward held off passing sentence on Andre Terrance Minors after his lawyer spent the day arguing against the use of certain evidence for sentencing.

Minors of Hamilton Parish stabbed Crystal Pearman on October 13, 1991 while she tried to drive to work. On May 10, he pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Yesterday's planned sentencing was delayed when lawyer Ms Patricia Harvey argued that the summary of evidence contained irrelevant and unsubstantiated information.

Ms Harvey was referring to statements that Minors, 28, had repeatedly threatened and beaten Pearman, who was described as his ex-girlfriend.

Minors had never been convicted of any charges until his admission of guilt two months ago, she said.

Crown counsel Ms Sharon Kenny tried to show the court that the relationship between Minors and Pearman prior to the stabbing was important, in order to prove it was not just a "one-off incident''.

Two witnesses testified in court yesterday including Pearman, who told the court about previous violence inflicted by Minors.

Ms Harvey tried to show the court that Minors lost control and attacked Pearman after she had struck him with her scooter. Pearman denied ever hitting Minors, accidentally or otherwise.

The second witness, a friend of the victim, told the court about an incident outside The Spinning Wheel nightclub on September 15, 1991. Renette Hill was leaving the club when she heard someone yell for help. She turned around and saw Minors with his arm around Pearman's neck.

He threw her up against a closed shutter, before she escaped into the club.

Hill comforted Pearman until Police arrived.

Hill testified that when they left the nightclub again, Minors could be heard yelling, "Don't let me see that girl or I'll kill her''.

The stabbing occurred on October 13, 1991. Minors flagged down Pearman as she was driving to work on Crawl Hill. After a brief conversation in a bus stop lay-by Pearman tried to leave on her scooter. Minors attacked her with a knife, inflicting 20 stab wounds and leaving her with permanent damage and scarring.

Earlier this year, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board awarded her $70,000 for her wounds and suffering.