Milton Jackson, the 32-year-old marketing consultant who pleaded guilty to stabbing a student of the University of the West Indies, was sentenced to four years imprisonment at hard labour when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Jackson, represented by lawyer George Soutar, appeared before RM Martin Gayle and attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. His lawyer told the court that Jackson wanted to change his plea because he had entered it without legal representation. After some consideration, RM Gayle decided that he could not accede to the lawyer's request as the complainant's injuries were too serious. He referred to the medical certificate which suggested that the complainant was lucky to be alive as the stab she received to her neck missed a crucial vein by centimetres.

RM Gayle also mentioned that he did not want to drag out the case and force the complainant, a medical student, to miss her classes. He said: "Taking a change of plea will only create more stress on the complainant. She's not a Jamaican and she is in a delicate faculty. The injuries are serious and there are no signs of self-defence, nothing to say why I should exercise my discretion that way - not even a scratch on him." The complainant received nine stab wounds and 70 stitches and was hospitalised from August 26 to August 31. After learning that his plea would not be changed, Jackson asked the court if he would be allowed to appeal the sentence.

sharp pain

The facts of the case are that on August 26, Jackson visited the complainant's room on Irvine Hall on the campus. It is reported that both were in a relationship but the complainant wanted it to end. She fell asleep while Jackson was there but was awakened by a sharp pain in the neck. She also saw Jackson standing over her with a knife and stabbing her all over her body. He was wearing gloves. Jackson escaped by jumping through a window and the complainant was taken to the hospital by other students. A sting operation was set up and Jackson was caught on the campus of the University of Technology.

The complainant was accompanied to court by her mother, who broke down when Jackson was sentenced.