ex-girlfriend, received a knife wound to his neck so big an entire hand could have been placed inside it.

The Supreme Court heard yesterday how Dean Antoine Young, 31, received 23 stab wounds all over his body, which resulted in massive blood loss.

Emergency medical technician Donald Astwood told the court that when he arrived on the scene during the early hours last October 9, Mr. Young was unresponsive, but had a faint pulse.

And he said he noticed a wound on the side of Mr. Young's neck that was "so huge, I could have placed my entire hand inside of it''.

Emergency nurse Laura Panico said there was so much skin missing from Mr.

Young's left inside arm, just above his elbow, it was impossible for her to insert an intravenous drip into him.

Randy (Chicken) Burgess, 34, of Cashew City, St. David's, is accused of murdering Mr. Young with a kitchen knife in his girlfriend Trina Todd's home.

He denies the charge.

The jury heard yesterday how Burgess was concerned for some time that Mr.

Young, who was Miss Todd's ex-boyfriend and the father of her child, had wanted to hurt him.

Mr. Young is alleged to have made indirect threats toward Burgess, to the point where Burgess said he had informed Police.

The court heard how Burgess openly admitted being scared of Mr. Young and believed he was only acting in self defence on the night of the stabbing.

Mr. Young rushed to Miss Todd's home in Border Lane, Pembroke, soon after 2 a.m. on October 9 after telephoning the house and hearing her screams.

Burgess had been out with his friends but had called around to see Miss Todd at home at about 2 a.m. because she was not answering his calls.

An argument is said to have broken out between Burgess and Miss Todd after she told him she wanted a break from their relationship. Earlier the court heard how Burgess was alleged to have punched and choked her.

When Mr. Young arrived at the house, he passed Miss Todd in the driveway and ran into the property, leaving the car engine running, where a fight broke out between the two men in the kitchen.

The court heard how Burgess told Police that Mr. Young had grabbed hold of him. In fear, he said, he picked up the nine-inch kitchen knife and lashed out, stabbing him first in the back.

Mr. Young ran out of the house and collapsed in the street. Burgess made off, still clutching the knife, running up Parsons Road.

Seconds later, Burgess dialled 911 on his cell phone, admitting that he had stabbed a man and asking them to send an ambulance.

The accused's brother, Rodney Washington, said he received a "distressed'' call from Burgess minutes later.

Mr. Washington said his brother told him he had stabbed a man and he instinctively knew who he was referring to because of conversations they had about the threats from Mr. Young.

He said: "He indicated to me that he was running and that he had about 100 guys chasing him.

"At that point he was under a lot of stress. I could hear it in his voice. I asked him where he was. I told him I would be there as soon as I could. He said he was heading towards the Police compound.'' He went on: "He sounded terrified.'' By the time Mr. Washington made it to the Police compound, Burgess had already managed to wave a passing Police car down that was heading toward Border Lane.

Still clutching the knife, and with about five people on bikes following behind, he told the officers that he had stabbed a man.

Sgt. Terry Spencer, who had known Burgess for some time, told the court how the accused held his head in his hands on the journey to the station and asked them what he was supposed to do.

Sgt. Spencer said: "Burgess continually repeated phrases like `I knew something like this was going to happen. I should have gone straight home'.'' He told the court that Burgess appeared frightened and scared.

Another officer, P.c. Carl Gibbons said Burgess told him he had been acting in self defence.

The court also heard how, when they arrived at the station, Burgess said he hoped Mr. Young would be all right before being taken to the jail area where he openly sobbed into his hands.

Insp. Stuart Crockwell, who had known the accused and his family personally for many years, said he was "blown away'' when he heard about the stabbing and Burgess's involvement.

At the request of Burgess, he went to the station on the day of the incident to talk to him.

Burgess confessed what had happened and claimed Mr. Young had threatened to kill him during the telephone conversation just prior to the attack.

Insp. Crockwell said: "I have always found him (Burgess) to be a truthful and sincere person.'' And he said he believed that Burgess was genuinely afraid when confronted and grabbed by Mr. Young.