A former Sandys Secondary student accused of assaulting principal Melvyn Bassett "should be held accountable for his actions'', a prosecutor said yesterday.

Sgt. Anthony Mouchette told Magistrates' Court during submissions in the assault case yesterday that Kiwon Butterfield's actions during last year's prom night were "deliberate and intentional''.

Butterfield has admitted punching Mr. Bassett after his name was not called during a prom night graduate roll call last year.

His lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said her client was discriminated against because he did not cover his dreadlocks.

Butterfield, an 18-year-old Rastafarian, previously testified that his dreadlocks must not be covered while praying and eating for religious reasons.

But Sgt. Mouchette said yesterday that Mr. Bassett had compromised his original demand that Butterfield wear a headcover, and was willing to allow Butterfield to participate if he tied back his dreadlocks.

According to Sgt. Mouchette, Mr. Bassett had made a similar compromise at an earlier cap and gown ceremony, and Butterfield had complied.

"But in the words of his mother, the defendant wanted to `flash his natty' on the night of the prom,'' added Sgt. Mouchette.

"The defendant knew what to expect when he didn't accept Mr. Bassett's compromise.

"Mr. Butterfield was aware of the school's code of conduct. If he felt that he was being discriminated against, the proper steps would've been to appeal to the Human Rights Commission or the Board of Directors.'' Sgt. Mouchette added that the prom was delayed for more than twenty minutes after a verbal altercation between Butterfield and Mr. Bassett, and implied that Butterfield had time to "cool down'' prior to the assault.

"Were it not for the intervention of people at the head table, the assault might have been worse,'' he added.

But Ms Christopher called Mr. Bassett's actions "unlawful'', and stated: "The headmaster occupies an important role in our educational system, but the headmaster is not God... the headmaster is not above the law.'' She noted that the other students had not complied with different school rules the night of the prom, and questioned Mr. Bassett's interpretation of the rules that singled out Butterfield for disciplinary action.

But Mr. Francis stated: "We've got this book of rules. Who's going to interpret them, the students or the headmaster? You can't take a ship to sea without a captain, and we can't have the tail wagging the dog.'' Mr. Francis said he had "a lot of issues to look at'' and scheduled judgment for January 28.