A prison officer was attacked after apologising to the brother of an inmate who had died while in jail, Supreme Court heard yesterday.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the New Year?s Day assault that left the off-duty officer with serious head injuries on the opening day of the GBH trial .

Craig Randall Clarke, a 33-year-old Westgate corrections officer from Devonshire, was seen in the video being kicked and punched in the attack that took place at 3.25 a.m. on January 1, 2002, on Front Street.

Shannon O?Brien Tuzo, 30, and Raymond Winslow Burgess, 25, have both pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Clarke ? a third man, Shaki Eugene Crockwell, 21, of Happy Valley Road, Pembroke, has already admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Clarke and will be sentenced at a later date.

The court heard that blood found on Burgess? shoe matched that of Mr. Clarke while Tuzo was identified by the Police officer who recorded the CCTV footage from the Prospect control centre.

The incident began after Clarke, who had been out celebrating New Year?s Eve at the Club 40 nightclub, offered condolences to Troy Rawlings over the recent death of his brother Steven (Pepe) Dill, who died in prison earlier that month from a severe asthma attack ? an inquest recently heard that Dill had died due to a lack of timely medical attention.

?I was inside (Club 40) socialising, having a few drink, enjoying New Year?s Eve and having a good time,? Mr. Clarke told the court.

?At about 3.15 a.m. I remember going outside and going towards Docksiders bar when I saw Yankee Boy (Mr. Rawlings).

?So I offered him my condolences about his brother and his reply was ?You?ve gone and f***ed up my whole life?.

?Then Mr. Tuzo said ?Yeah, all prison officers are f***ed up?.

?I decided to walk away. Then a guy was punching me in my face. I continued walking and the next thing I woke up by an ambulance and they conveyed me to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.?

He said he was treated for a broken nose, fractures around his eye and swelling on the other side of his face ? he added that he now had only 30 percent vision in his eye and had needed surgery on his nose.

Bermuda Police CCTV manager P.c. Irvin Hendrickson then took the stand and told the court: ?I observed what appeared to be an altercation outside Club 40. I saw persons, one of whom I recognised as Shannon Tuzo, and Craig Clarke.

?I saw Tuzo strike Craig several times, that is when the other two men jumped in on the attack. I saw them kicking Clarke as he slumped to the ground.?

Under cross-examination from Tuzo?s defence counsel Victoria Pearman, P.c. Hendrickson said that Tuzo walked off after striking Clarke and wasn?t around when the other men were kicking him.

Burgess, who by representing himself significantly slowed the day?s proceedings, then asked the officer: ?Do you recognise me at the scene of the crime??

P.c. Hendrickson replied: ?No.?

A series of overseas experts then gave evidence with Daniel Livecchi, from the US Secret Service, explaining how he had enhanced the CCTV footage before three scientists from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detailed how they had examined exhibits sent to Canada for blood matches.

DNA Typing Specialist Mary McCullough told the court that blood found on the left shoe of Burgess matched that of Mr. Clarke but blood found on a sample of cloth from trousers belonging to Tuzo did not.

The trial continues on Monday.