A defence witness who is alleged to have used foul language and racial slurs on the night that Michael Robson was stabbed, yesterday characterised his own behaviour as "polite conversation.'' Eric MacIntosh said he went to the Ice Queen restaurant around 3 a.m. on July 19, 1993, to buy cigarettes.

His friends Randy Benjamin and Orien Thomas were also with him.

Benjamin, of Lusher Hill, Warwick, is charged with attempting to murder Michael David Robson, of Middle Road, Southampton, wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and possessing an offensive weapon.

All three offences are alleged to have occurred during the early morning hours of July 19, 1993, when Benjamin, Thomas and MacIntosh became embroiled in a fight with Craig Tavares, Robson, and Joshua MacGavern.

Benjamin is alleged to have plunged a knife with a four-inch blade into Robson's temple so far that it pierced his brain.

Meanwhile, the court heard that MacIntosh was keen for a cigarette and took exception when his order took a long time to come.

He admitted using some profanity at the restaurant counter while waiting for the order, but he said he frequently used foul language and rarely meant anything by it.

This contradicted two defence witnesses' testimony.

Earlier, Benjamin and Akil Lambert testified that MacIntosh was talking loudly when he arrived at the Ice Queen in a taxi.

Lambert said MacIntosh appeared drunk and "was making a whole pile of noise.'' Crown witnesses Roger Fox, Ewing Tucker, Tavares and MacGavern all testified that MacIntosh was rowdy and boisterous. Tucker, Tavares and MacGavern further alleged that his abusive behaviour included racial slurs.

But MacIntosh denied this and said he spoke politely to several people around the counter while waiting for his food and cigarettes to come.

After getting his cigarettes, MacIntosh said Benjamin complained that three white guys, (Robson, MacGavern and Tavares) sitting near to them were staring at him and he told him to ignore them.

Then he said he heard a loud noise and saw the white men beating Benjamin but when he asked what was going on he was also assaulted.

At this point MacIntosh said he lost sight of Benjamin because he was fighting off his own attacker, but he said he saw Thomas getting beaten as well. Since the Police were coming, MacIntosh said he left the Ice Queen and walked toward the traffic lights.

The trial enters its sixth day today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground. Mr. Philip Perinchief appears for the accused while Mr. Khamisi Tokumbo appears for the Crown.