A 16-year-old accused of stabbing a Jamaican woman told Police, "I should have killed her,'' the prosecution contended yesterday.

Fredjun Hughes, of Rockland Road, Warwick, also told Police he was acting in self-defence, the Supreme Court heard.

Alleged victim June Hayward pulled a knife first, demanding money she believed was owed her, Hughes told Police.

Hughes has denied charges of wounding with intent and wounding Ms Hayward, of Smith's Parish, on September 11 last year. A third charge of attempted murder was dropped by the Crown.

Last week, jury heard Ms Hayward describe how she met Hughes on September 11 near Devil's Hole, after repeated attempts to get money from him to repair her bike which he had borrowed and damaged.

Ms Hayward said she was at a dock, near the junction of Knapton Hill and Harrington Sound Road, looking for Hughes when he produced a knife and stabbed her.

Yesterday Det. Con. Don DeSilva recounted comments Hughes' made in the Hamilton Police Station's prison cell the evening he was arrested.

"I should have killed her,'' Det. Con. DeSilva quoted Hughes as saying.

"Everyone's picking on me. If she had stabbed me, I bet she wouldn't be here.'' Det. Con. DeSilva said Hughes also claimed Ms Hayward "pulled a knife'' on him.

Det. Con. Gareth Davis also testified that Hughes admitted stabbing Ms Hayward.

"She started it. She was waving this knife in my face,'' Det. Con. Davis said Hughes told officers on the way to Hamilton Police Station. "She said she was from Jamaica and was a yardie and she was going to stab me. I went and got my knife and stabbed her.'' Det. Con. Davis said Hughes described the weapon he used to stab Ms Hayward as a long kitchen knife that measured approximately nine inches.

Hughes allegedly told Det. Con. Peter Clark he borrowed Ms Hayward's bike on September 8 and when he was late returning it, she made him give her money because he had made her late for work.

"I gave her all the money I had, $25,'' Hughes is alleged to have said. "So when she came on me at Flatts for money for damaging her bike I told her I didn't have any.'' Hughes claimed he was approached by a knife-wielding Ms Hayward who was demanding money.

"She took a knife out of her handbag and threatened me with it and told me she would kill me if I didn't give her money for damaging her bike,'' he told Police. "I was frightened. I thought she would kill me.'' Hughes said he went, retrieved a knife and returned to Devil's Hole, but Ms Hayward had left the area.

"Then she came back and came on to me again doing like this here with the knife,'' Hughes said, demonstrating to Police. "So when she came again I bent down and stabbed her with the knife.'' Under cross-examination by Hughes' lawyer, Archibald Warner, the Police officers maintained they did nothing wrong by talking to Hughes without an adult present.

The officers stressed they did not exploit Hughes, who is illiterate, by recording his statements when neither his mother nor his lawyer were present.

All officers said they cautioned Hughes about his legal rights before recording his statements.

But during official interviews with Police -- which his mother or lawyer attended -- Hughes refused to answer questions.

The trial will continue today before Puisne Judge Richard Ground. The defence is expected to begin its case.