Briton jailed for 8 years for stabbing soldier in Cyprus The mother and her sister - along with members of Collins' regiment - were in court on Friday to hear the sentencing. Although manslaughter carries a life prison term in Cyprus, the teenager's defence lawyer urged for leniency saying there was no premeditation and his client was provoked during a drunken row. Osman had changed his original not guilty plea and "accepted his guilt for stabbing the soldier." He has since apologised to the soldier's family and fully cooperated with investigators. Two fellow British tourists - who cannot be named for legal reasons because they are both 17 - were released last month after charges against them were dropped. Police said the incident occurred when four off-duty British soldiers argued with the suspects. The fracas is believed to have been ignited over taunting related to Manchester-London rivalry. During the row, the 19-year-old soldier was stabbed in the chest with a knife. Police have said that Osman had admitted to stabbing the victim but argued it was in self-defence as he and his friends were allegedly attacked by the soldiers. British Forces Cyprus said the incident happened in an area out of bounds to soldiers because of previous incidents. British soldiers have been banned from pubs and clubs at the centre of the resort since 1994 when Louise Jensen, a 23-year-old Danish tour guide, was abducted, raped and beaten to death by three British servicemen. Ayia Napa is the island's most popular resort among young holidaymakers, especially British tourists attracted by the nightlife. Around 9,000 British troops and their dependants are stationed on Cyprus as Britain retained two large sovereign base areas after the island gained independence from colonial rule in 1960.