The man who stands accused of unlawfully killing Wilfred (Oopie) Ming Jr. last September, admitted he lied to Police after his arrest.

And Winston Wellington Burgess also told Supreme Court he had no idea how Ming was stabbed.

Burgess, 31, of Turkey Hill, St. George's denies unlawfully killing Ming and intentionally causing Ming grievous bodily harm on September 10, 1994.

Yesterday the court heard Burgess acknowledged that he told Police he used a broken bottle while he was fighting with Ming, but admitted in court that he really used a knife.

He steadfastly denied Crown assertions that he deliberately misled the investigating officer, although he also conceded that he never used a broken bottle at any time.

Burgess said after he was arrested he was tired and told the Police the first thing that came into his mind.

Furthermore, he said that during the fight he pulled the knife out of a pouch located on his waist and exposed the blade using two fingers.

"I knew he (Ming) was unarmed. I armed myself to defend myself. I was on bottom taking a lot of licks.'' Despite Crown charges to the contrary, Burgess firmly denied knowing how Ming was cut.

"I don't know when Ming got injured but it must have happened when I got up,'' he said.

Burgess explained that he left the Canterbury Bar and Grill and accepted Ming's challenge to fight.

On his way down the stairs he turned sideways and looked back and saw Ming was following him.

He said Ming kicked him on the right side of his face and he fell back as a result.

"I didn't do anything at that time. He just started punching me. He was sitting on my midsection.

"I was telling him to ease up but he just kept punching me. He started banging my head against the wall and I went to get the knife which was attached to a clip on my pants.'' Burgess said Ming began to slow down and he reached up and put him in a headlock using his right arm, and used his left hand to secure his right wrist.

The knife he said, was still in his right hand. Soon after, Burgess said Ming stopped struggling and he pushed him away. It was at that time he noticed they were both covered in blood but he had no idea how the blood got there.

On Monday the prosecution and defence will make their closing arguments to the jury followed by the judge's directions.

The trial, before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade, is then expected to go to the jury. Mr. Delroy Duncan appears for Burgess while Attorney General Mr. Elliott Mottley QC appears for the Crown.