to protect himself and he did not believe it would cause burns.

Henry William Santucci suffered third-degree burns on April 22 last year after Dwayne Troy Dunae Symonds threw sulphuric acid at him.

Symonds, of Random Lane, told the Supreme Court he thought it would just irritate his friend's skin.

He has been charged with attempting to burn, maim or disfigure, Santucci, 35, of Pembroke, with a corrosive substance.

Symonds -- during cross-examination by Crown counsel Mr. Melvin Douglas -- admitted he knew the acid could burn.

"When I got the acid, I had on my overalls and I dropped the bottle into my left pocket. Carrying it left a red burn on my leg, like a sunburn,'' he said.

He said he did not seek medical treatment and he thought this was the extent of the burn.

He therefore said he thought the acid would just irritate Santucci's skin.

Symonds said on the night of the incident -- April 22, 1994 -- he finished work at 9.30 p.m. and went straight to one of Hunt's Sanitation and Excavating Services' officer trailers.

"I laid down but soon heard footsteps moving through the yard,'' he said.

"Then I heard a loud bang on the glass. I was concerned about who was out there because he shook the trailer.'' Symonds said he looked through the glass and saw it was Santucci, shouting for Sampson tobacco and $100 owed to him. Symonds said the debt was for marijuana they had purchased from another man.

He also told the court he was frightened of Santucci because Santucci had punched him twice before and put a knife to his throat.

"I thought he was going to try something,'' Symonds said. "That night he was hostile and aggressive.'' He said he went to the door with the tobacco in one hand and the bottle of acid in the other, "in case he (Santucci) tried anything''.

Symonds said when he handed down the tobacco Santucci reached up to grip his arm.

"I flicked it on Santucci to protect myself in case he had a knife in his hand.'' Symonds also admitted lying to Police.

"At the time I was too confused about the legal procedures to even think about anything,'' he said.

But when Mr. Douglas asked: "Why did you not just throw the man his Sampson and close the door behind you?'' Symonds replied: "Because I always face my fears head on.'' Mr. Douglas accused Symonds of throwing the acid on Santucci more than once.

But Symonds denied this saying he only "flicked'' it once.

Senior Government analyst Dr. Alan Christopher Young yesterday confirmed that the corrosive substance thrown at Santucci was sulphuric acid.

"This is a very corrosive liquid that causes a chemical burn on fabric and human tissue,'' said Dr. Young.

The trial resumes this morning before Puisne Judge the Hon. Justice Meerabux.

Symonds is represented by Mr. Mark Pettingill.