A headmaster has claimed Bermuda can "return to its sanity'' after a Rastafarian student was convicted of assaulting him in a row about his dreadlocks.

Sandys Secondary School student Kiwon Butterfield accused Melvyn Bassett of discriminating against him when his name was not called at a graduation ceremony in June 1996.

But Senior Magistrate Will Francis yesterday dismissed the discrimination claims and found Butterfield guilty of common assault. He delayed sentencing pending an appeal being filed and remanded Butterfield on bail.

Butterfield, 18, claimed Mr. Bassett would not allow his name to be called because his dreadlocks were on show.

He pleaded not guilty despite admitting punching Mr. Bassett at the graduation dinner at the Sonesta Beach Hotel.

Lawyers for Butterfield, who argued his human rights had been breached, have vowed to appeal against the guilty verdict.

But Mr. Francis said the school rules clearly set out regulations about students' hairstyles.

Mr. Bassett, who was in Magistrates' Court, hailed "a landmark decision'' yesterday.

He told The Royal Gazette : "I would prefer not to say too much in light of the appeal.

"But the judgment is one that I believe has helped to clarify things in the eyes of school administrators.

"At least schools now know that they are well within their rights to set their own rules.

"Of course this will ultimately be decided at a higher level which we are hoping will not cause any further problems.

"But this could be a landmark decision that could help return the country back to its sanity.'' Butterfield, of Ratteray Lane, Sandys, appeared in court wearing a black and white sports jacket and dark green trousers.

At the end of the hearing, he wore a dark cap to cover his dreadlocks.

Mr. Francis, giving his judgment, told the court Butterfield and Mr. Bassett had been "involved in a heated discussion'' moments before the start of the ceremony.

He said Mr. Bassett told Butterfield to wear a cap over his dreadlocks in school but allowed the defendant to tie his dreadlocks back during the graduation. But Mr. Francis said: "When the accused entered the room for his name to be called, his dreadlocks were not tied back.

"The Mistress of Ceremonies noticed this, looked at the headmaster and he indicated not to call the accused's name -- so she called the next person's name.'' He said Butterfield approached the stage, "took the microphone and angrily asked why his name wasn't called''.

Mr. Francis added: "He directed his questions to Mr. Bassett who did not answer. The accused then went to the head table, went to Mr. Bassett and punched him several times before he was finally restrained.'' He said he read the Sandys Secondary School Students-Parents handbook before reaching his verdict.

"It said boys should note that any hairstyles which the school deems reasonable will be permitted,'' said Mr. Francis.

"I have no doubt that Mr. Bassett was applying that rule when dealing with the accused.'' He said a decision on whether or not Butterfield's religious freedoms were violated would have to be decided by the Supreme Court. But Mr. Francis added: "As I see it, Mr. Bassett did not discriminate for he applied to this accused the same rules that he applied to all students.

"This accused was trying to press Mr. Bassett to have things his way that evening and the accused erupted in a fit of temper that didn't erupt suddenly.''