A defendant was today sentenced to seven years behind bars in his absence after a jury found him guilty of chopping a man in the neck.

Stephen Gladstone Thompson, 27, of Pembroke, denied a sole charge of wounding Neville Andre Greene, 42, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on April 29 of this year.

Thompson fled the Island on the second day of his trial after firing his lawyer claiming he had a meeting with another person to defend him.

Police are investigating Thompson’s location and once he is found, he will be extradited to serve his sentence.

See tomorrow’s The Royal Gazette for full story.