District Judge May Mesenas granted the adjournment on the grounds that 19-year-old Teo Jia Rong's fiance is expected to give birth next week.

Teo's lawyer Mr Gurdaib Sing also asked for time to prepare the mitigation plea and for his client to apologise and offer compensation to the victim.

Teo had gone to the playground in front of Block 236 Yishun Ring Road to meet his friend, Oh Wee Lee, 23, Jul 26 evening, according to court papers.

They were there to settle the $80 which Teo owed Oh.

After Teo told Oh that he could not pay up, he whipped out a knife from under his shirt and attacked him.

In self-defence, Oh suffered lacerations on his left hand and chin.

Despite bleeding profusely from his wounds, he managed to walk to the main road where a passer-by helped him to call the police.

He was taken to Singapore General Hospital where he was admitted. He underwent surgery on his injured hand and was discharged two days later.

Teo was subsequently arrested.

Police took urine samples from him on Jul 28 at Ang Mo Kio Polive Division and found he had consumed a controlled drug, Erimin.

Urging the court not to up Teo's current bail of $10,000, Mr Singh said, 'It is unlikely that my client will abscond as his fiance will be delivering soon.'

'Once the child is delivered, he will also be making plans to register his marriage.'

The judge agreed to the request.

Teo will be sentenced on Nov 7.