reduced in the case of a man who stabbed his former girlfriend 20 times in broad daylight.

Hamilton Parish resident Andre Minors' prison sentence was "manifestly excessive'', Mr. Warner argued before the Court of Appeal.

Minors, 28, had pleaded guilty last summer to the attempted murder of Miss Crystal Pearman.

Mr. Warner cited cases in Britain where attempted murder convictions carried between 10 and 12 years.

Most of the cases involved the infliction of a number of wounds, and one involved rape, he pointed out.

He also cited a Bermuda case where the victim endured a "savage'' knife attack in a car. The culprit, who had a lengthy criminal record and showed no remorse, was jailed for 12 years.

Miss Pearman, the mother of Minors' child, suffered permanent damage to her hands in the knife attack, which occurred at midday on North Shore Road on October 13, 1991.

Before being sentenced last July 13, Minors had tearfully pleaded for Miss Pearman's forgiveness.

Mr. Warner submitted that the Supreme Court judge who heard the case last summer allowed evidence that was "highly prejudicial to the appellant and created an injustice''.

He was referring to prosecution allegations that Minors was "a dangerous and violent person'' and had threatened the life of Pearman on a previous occasion.

Minors may have been sentenced for crimes he was not charged with, his lawyer argued.

He added Minors had denied ever threatening to kill Pearman.

Court of Appeal president the Hon. Mr. Justice Harvey da Costa pointed out that the then Puisne Judge, Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward had said he would not take into account the allegations in sentencing Minors.

"Why must we refuse to accept the judge's word that he would not take (the allegations) into consideration,'' the Appeal Judge asked.

Mr. Warner said he believed Mr. Justice Ward's mind may "still have been influenced by the allegations''.

Mr. Justice da Costa was joined by two new Appeal Judges, former Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood and the Hon. Mr. Justice Kempster.

Crown Counsel Miss Sharon Kenny, arguing the 16-year sentence was not excessive, said Pearman lost half her blood from her wounds, which caused her 20 percent disability in both hands.

She also suffered emotional scarring.

"I cannot imagine a more serious case,'' Miss Kenny said, adding that the fact the crime was considered "domestic'' should not deter from its seriousness.

"Violence is violence,'' she said.

She noted the maximum sentence for attempted murder was 20 years.

Minors had a history of "temper tantrums'' with women and a long history of violence, including use of illegal weapons and the public must be protected from him, she said.

His social inquiry report had revealed he had no psychological illness.

"He is just plain violent,'' she said.

She added the attack occurred in full view of young children leaving church and taxis carrying visitors from the Airport.

The Appeal Judges said they would hand down their decision this morning.