NEW YORK — A man who cut into a postal clerk's chest with a power saw inside a New York subway station while other people fled for their lives apologised to the victim on Wednesday just before being sentenced to 18 years in prison.Tareyton Williams, 34, was sentenced on his guilty plea to second-degree assault for an attack on Michael Steinberg, 65, last summer. He must serve about 15 1/2 years of the determinate sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Steinberg told the court in a loud, strong voice that he forgave his assailant, although Williams nearly killed him, because it was the right thing to do.

The attack occurred July 7, 2006, shortly after 2 a.m., when Steinberg was on his way to work. Williams grabbed a power saw from a cart used by workers who were upgrading the public address system in Manhattan's 110th Street and Broadway station.

Williams carved through three of Steinberg's ribs, punctured his lungs and stopped cutting about three inches from his heart without saying a word, Steinberg said. William then took his money and credit cards "and he left me to die," he said.

Steinberg said city transit employees watched and never tried to help him during the attack. He said they had allowed Williams to grab their equipment and "they should be on trial as accomplices to what he did."

A transit spokesman, Paul Fleuranges, reported shortly after the attack that a token booth clerk had immediately called police. He said the other workers were employed by a private contractor, not by transit officials.

Steinberg said the sentencing may be closure, "but it'll never be the end for me."

"To be honest, I'm afraid to walk the streets at times," Steinberg said. "I wasn't afraid of nothing. Now I'm afraid of everything and everybody."

While Steinberg said he forgives Williams, he said he did not forgive the transit authority.

Williams, given a chance to speak, said, "I want to apologise to Mr. Steinberg and his family for what happened. I feel real bad for what happened to his family, but I guess I'll pay for it."

Steinberg, in the courtroom's front row, said, "I accept your apology."

"Thank you," Williams replied.