Justis Raham Smith walked free from Supreme Court yesterday after the judge took into account time already spent in custody for his stabbing conviction.

Smith, 25, of Sunset Mews, Pembroke was found guilty of unlawfully wounding Shanae Outerbridge in August.

Outerbridge was stabbed in the stomach on February 2, 2002 during a fight at Dockyard.

Smith was also convicted of causing bodily harm to Hanifah Taalibdin and being in possession of an offensive weapon after the incident.

He was remanded in custody following his arrest shortly after the attack and spent 11 months in custody before being bailed in December, 2002.

He then served an additional six weeks behind bars following his guilty verdict in September.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons sentenced Smith to the time he had already served in custody.

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said his time in jail had impeded Smith from continuing with his education as he was in the process of getting his General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

After the proceedings, Ms Christopher said she hoped Smith would be able to get back to his life and continue his education.

Earlier Senior Crown counsel Lloyd Rayney told the court that Smith had been involved in other violent acts. These included violence against a Police officer in 1996 and fighting in a public place in 2001.

Although Smith never received prison time, Mr. Rayney said the prior convictions still said a lot about his character.

Mr. Rayney also pointed out that in the social inquiry report earlier this month Smith said he believed he was convicted of stabbing because of his association with the Rebecca Middleton case.

In 1996 Smith was charged with killing Canadian tourist Rebecca Middleton who was raped and stabbed, then left to die. The case was dismissed after Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux said there was lack of evidence to continue with the trial.

“That assertion by Mr. Smith is entirely fallacious,” Mr. Rayney said.

He added that Smith would not accept any responsibility for his offences.

After being convicted of the current three offences, Smith faced a maximum of five years in prison but Ms Christopher said similar cases were usually heard in Magistrates' Court and only carried a maximum of 12 months.

Mrs. Justice Simmons said she had to encourage lawful behaviour and said that young people must be more responsible when they socialise and drink. She warned that young people should not retaliate.

Mr. Rayney did not wish to comment on the outcome of the sentencing.