Due to an editing error, a story in yesterday's newspaper did not report that Shawn Derrick Gibson was sentenced by the Court of Appeal to three years in prison for unlawfully wounding Mark McRonald.

The Court of Appeal sent a Sandys teenager to prison yesterday for stabbing another youth.

The ruling overturned a suspended sentence given by Chief Justice the Hon. Mr.

Justice Ward.

In April, Shawn Derrick Gibson, 19, admitted unlawfully wounding Mark McRonald with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Mr. Justice Ward gave him a two year prison sentence suspended for two years.

During his sentencing, Gibson's lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall argued that Gibson's age, his work ethic and the fact that he had a young child were all reasons fro granting a suspended sentence.

Mr. Justice Ward accepted Mr. Marshall's arguments and told Gibson that his conduct must be exemplary and he must consider going to church because "those that attend church did not get in as much trouble as those that don't''.

Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun yesterday appealed the sentence and said the two year suspended prison sentence was "manifestly inadequate.'' Mr. Calhoun said that on June 6 1993 McRonald was walking with friends in Par-la-Ville Park.

Gibson, who was drunk at the time, approached McRonald after his girlfriend, Christine Marshall, had called McRonald over.

Though it was unclear if any pushing took place, Gibson then attacked McRonald with a lock knife.

The blade penetrated two and a half inches into his abdominal wall puncturing his liver, causing him to lose 60 percent of his blood.

The operating surgeon said McRonald would not suffer any long term effects from the injury but the wound would have been fatal had the blade penetrated a few more centimetres. He also suffered two cuts to his left elbow which required 15 stitches.

Mr. Calhoun added: "This was not a knife slash, it was a thrust with sufficient power.

"The attack was totally unprovoked. McRonald was simply speaking to the girl, he was not doing anything inappropriate.'' Mr. Calhoun also said that when asked where he got the knife, Gibson said he used it at work. When he left work it was still in his pocket and when he lost his temper he resorted to the knife.

Mr. Calhoun added: "People will arm themselves to protect themselves. And if people are going to carry weapons and not be afraid of the consequences, the next step will be guns. There must be a deterrent which is definitely not a suspended sentence.'' He also referred to the case of Richard Vivien who wounded a person with a knife and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

"Had Gibson's trial judge looked at other cases he would have come to a decision of more than a two year suspended sentence in the first place.

Gibson's sentence should have been between three and a half years and five years,'' he said.

Mr. Marshall said: "Gibson has made a real effort to improve himself and the deficiencies in his life.

"The Chief Justice found that he was truly remorseful and he gave a greater weight in this case to a suspended sentence which is consistent with rehabilitation.'' Mr. Justice da Costa said: "More and more crimes are being committed by young people.'' Mr. Marshall said that Mr. Ward accepted Gibson's evidence Gibson as to why he had a knife.

"The risk of putting a youth in jail is that they come out worse than they went in,'' he said. "They are sticking youths in prison not with other youths, but with men who are often repeat offenders.

"Gibson's age and the fact that he is not likely to offend again justifies the suspended sentence.''