After being arrested for the murder of 22 year-old Wilfred Ming Jr., Winston Burgess told Police: "I hope he is dead and if he isn't I'll take him out.'' Burgess, a father of four, also told Police that on the night of September 10 last year, at the Canterbury Bar and Grill on Water Street in St. George's, Ming told him to follow him down the steps.

"He scratched me and I retaliated. I'll do the time, I retaliated, and I don't care. Nobody fights me for nothing. Nobody f--- with my s---.'' Burgess, 31, of Turkey Hill, St. George's is charged with unlawfully killing Wilfred Ming Jr. and intentionally causing him grievous bodily harm on September 10, 1994.

Arresting officer P.c. Dave Greenidge told the court yesterday that while Burgess -- who started giving evidence later yesterday -- was at the St.

George's Police Station he admitted killing Ming.

And he told Police that he hoped Ming was dead, "because if he isn't I'll take him out''.

"He hit me and I counted to three and then I retaliated,'' Burgess told Police. "Just put me in a cell with three blankets.'' P.c. Greenidge added that when Police attended Burgess' residence, Burgess was seen carrying a green bag and said he was on his way to burn the items and planned to turn himself in after the weekend.

And at the Station P.c. Greenidge said that with no prompting from officers, Burgess told them to write down what he was saying but asked that he be able to read it.

He added: "Ming didn't like what I said about gays. I respect my mother and no one else.'' Asked by Burgess' lawyer Mr. Delroy Duncan if Burgess told him he was tired and wanted to go to his cell, P.c. Greenidge said Burgess never said that, and he never read the statement that he made.

P.c. Dwayne Leverock told the court that before Ming's death was known, Burgess was arrested on suspicion of wounding Ming with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He also took officers to the place where he had dropped the knife which was behind a wall on Church Lane.

And when Chief Insp. George Jackson told Burgess that Ming was dead.

Burgess said: "He's dead, I didn't mean to kill the youth, I just defended myself.'' Chief Insp. Jackson added that Burgess was visibly shaken and sobbed.

When Burgess took the stand, he told the court that earlier on the evening of September 10 he attended a friend's family reunion at Tiger Bay in St.

George's.

"The Richardson's Gombey troupe was there and they needed an extra drummer so I went to the Canterbury Bar and Grill to get Mitchell Zuill because he could beat.

"When Mitchell left he told me to come back to the bar and get a drink, so when I left the reunion I went and asked Mitchell about getting the drink.'' The trial continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade.

Burgess is represented by Mr. Duncan and Mr. Juan Wolffe and the Crown is represented by Attorney General Mr. Elliott Mottley QC and senior Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun.