knife into the head of a 23-year-old man, was interrupted yesterday afternoon when the victim's stepfather fell to the court room floor suffering from what appeared to be a seizure.

Peter Schmellick, who was watching the opening of the trial concerning the near death injury of 23-year-old Michael David Robson of Middle Road, Southampton, made a loud noise before turning red and falling to the floor shaking. An ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Randy E. Benjamin of Lusher Hill has denied attempting to murder Robson on July 19, 1993, wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and being in possession of an offensive weapon namely a knife.

In his opening statement, Crown Counsel Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo told the jury that Benjamin, who is represented by Mr. Phillip Perinchief, intended to "take a life with a knife by embedding it in someone's head''.

He added: "You will hear that in the early hours of the morning on July 19, 1993 a number of people went to the Ice Queen snack bar in Paget.

"Among those people were three young white men among which was the complainant. Also amongst the crowd were three young black men one of which was the defendant.'' Mr. Tokunbo also said that the court would hear that the white men were there first eating their food and the three black men later arrived in a taxi.

"One of the black men was behaving offensively and he and the defendant directed their behaviour towards the three white men. The offensive behaviour included racial remarks,'' Mr. Tokunbo said.

"You will also hear that Michael Robson and his friends made the first blow and Benjamin responded with a four-inch knife blade into the complainant's head. He fell to the ground and remained there.

"A violent fight ensued which fully engaged the five individuals. One person heard the defendant say `kill them, kill them, you're going to die.'' Mr. Tokunbo also said that the jury would probably hear that Benjamin admitted to possessing and plunging a knife into one of the men but he said he was provoked and acted in self-defence.

"He claimed that what happened was an accident. The defence's case will range from accidental to provocation.

"However you will hear that the doctor had to chisel away bone in Robson's head in order to remove the knife, which means severe force had to be used when putting the knife there.'' The trial continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground.