scissors appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Oshea Tucker admitted causing grievous bodily harm on March 27. Police prosecutor, Sgt. Rex Osborne said the incident stemmed from an earlier argument between the two 16-year-old students over an umbrella.

Sgt. Osborne said Tucker was in the school's workroom when a fight broke out and he stabbed his schoolmate twice in his right thigh, lacerating an artery.

Tucker's lawyer, Mr. Tim Marshall pointed out his client had the scissors before the incident.

"(The complainant) started pushing and Oshea made it quite clear he did not want to be part of it,'' he said. "He grabbed Oshea by the neck and in that sort of position, Oshea felt very vulnerable and out of a great sense of frustration and feeling he was under attack, he used the scissors in his hands.

"He recognises fully it was not the right thing to do and it could have been quite serious. He did everything he could possibly do to remedy his wrong to his friend and he apologised.'' Mr. Marshall said the act was out of character for Tucker who, in his final year of high school, has plans to further his education.

He asked Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp not to give Tucker a period of probation as suggested in a social inquiry report as it might be viewed as a conviction, spoiling Tucker's chance for education abroad.

"He has learned from this unfortunate situation and it's unlikely it's ever going to repeat itself.'' Ms Mapp adjourned sentencing until June 5 so she could hear from the social worker and the Police prosecutor who initially dealt with the case.