pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in Magistrates' Court, The Royal Gazette has learned.

When Keith Neville Bean was discharged from an indictment for hitting Michael Carey on December 1, he had already pleaded guilty before Magistrate Will Francis and was fined $800 and given a six month suspended prison sentence in the lower court.

Bean, of Somerset Road, Sandys Parish, was cleared by a Supreme Court jury in May of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr. Carey on June 28, 1999 while they were building the new pier at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

The jury failed to give a majority verdict on the alternate and lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

During the five day trial the jury heard that Bean attacked Mr. Carey in response to alleged racial taunts -- which Mr. Carey denied -- and other verbal abuse. Bean is black and Mr. Carey is white.

Mr. Carey admitted chiding Bean for missing when throwing a rope from a tug boat to a barge.

After an exchange, Bean struck Mr. Carey in the head with a huge metal shackle which fractured his skull.

Mr. Francis sentenced Bean on November 22 and gave him until January 30 to pay the fine.