A man accused of attacking a friend with a golf club and setting his dog on him claimed yesterday to have no knowledge of the assault.

Nikia Javon Burchall, 25, said he fled the scene of an early morning fight in Court Street, Hamilton, after his alleged victim Terrence Webb and his cousin Ricky Wilson attacked him.

Burchall, who has pleaded not guilty to unlawful wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, said he ran from the fight but denied returning later with a golf club and his Pit Bull dog and attacking Mr. Webb.

Burchall, of Middletown Road, Pembroke, said he gave Mr. Webb, 37, a marijuana spliff outside of Roosters fast food shop around 1 a.m. on February 14 last year then demanded it back.

He said Mr. Wilson then gave him a `joint', but he threw it to the ground because he did not recall giving anything to Mr. Wilson.

He said he shoved Mr. Wilson, then Mr. Webb, of South Shore, Paget, attacked him. He claimed he tried to get away, but fell on the ground.

The pair then carried him to the doorway of Zaki's Bakery and began punching him, he claimed.

"There was a lot of people around and there was a big scuffle with more people,'' he told Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller at Supreme Court yesterday.

"I was getting jumped on and there was a big fight. Someone pulled me out and I ran toward the Spinning Wheel to catch my breath. About five minutes later, after I caught myself, I went home.'' Mr. Webb, who spent five days in hospital and had to have his nose rebuilt by surgeons, claimed Burchall attacked him with a golf club, splitting open his nose, and then set his dog on him.

Burchall, under examination from his lawyer Larry Mussenden, denied the claims, although he did admit to owning a Pit Bull.

Burchall admitted to Crown counsel Charlene Scott that he did not mention the alleged attack on himself until yesterday and did not report it to Police.

Ms Scott said: "I am suggesting that your story is all a concoction you made up for today.'' Burchall replied: "It's true.'' Ms Scott said: "You did take the golf club and split Mr. Webb's nose and fractured his cheek.'' He replied: "That's not true.'' Mr. Mussenden said Mr. Webb's story was inconsistent, and there should be enough doubt in the jury's mind to acquit his client.

"The Crown's case is all about different versions and I would invite you to believe it is about nothing. It is doubt, doubt, doubt,'' said Mr. Mussenden.

"They don't have the quality of evidence to ensure that Mr. Burchall is guilty of the things they accuse him of. On the basis of that doubt, my client is entitled to an acquittal.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller will sum up for the jury today.