Jamaine Quidir Salaam, of Beacon Hill, was found guilty in February of unlawfully wounding Don Wilson with the intent to do him grevious bodily harm during the early morning hours of August 29.

During the Supreme Court trial, the court learned Salaam stabbed Wilson with his lock knife after a fight which began near the dance floor. The five-inch blade pierced his abdomen cutting his liver.

Crown counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun said Wilson's injuries were described by doctors as life threatening. But because of hospital care, he did not die though he lost more than one pint of blood.

Salaam's lawyer, Mr. Delroy Duncan, urged the court to consider the lack of premeditation in the attack and argued there was provocation involved in the incident.

"He is not charged with unlawfully carrying a knife,'' Mr. Duncan said. "He did not start the fight.'' Mr. Duncan said it was important that his client receive the appropriate psychological and psychiatric counselling while in prison in order to spare him from the "scrap heap of Bermuda's youth'', once he returns to society.

"There are systemic problems with this young man,'' he said. "I hope you are convinced that the strong recommendations of the psychiatric report along with a lower sentence of imprisonment, meets the justice of this case especially given his age.'' However, Mr. Calhoun pointed out it was important to consider that the wound Salaam inflicted on Wilson was life threatening and that it occurred at a public gathering.

"The point is that he pulled the knife from his pocket and used it with nearly deadly consequences,'' he said. "He still speaks as if he was justified in doing this.'' In a pre-sentence statement to Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward, Salaam said: "I didn't go there to stab the guy. I am very sorry that it happened but I was defending myself. If I was not defending myself he would not have a case. I'm just sorry.'' Mr. Justice Ward said he had considered all the mitigating factors including Salaam's age. He then sentenced him to a 31 -year prison term with a requirement that he get the appropriate psychological and psychiatric counselling.