Assault victim Michael Carey yesterday denied ever using racially offensive language to a subordinate on June 28 last year.

But he admitted telling Keith Neville Bean to not "be an a**hole'' when he grumbled after being taunted for not throwing a docking rope properly.

And Mr. Carey -- who said he "fell like a rock'' after being hit -- told the nine woman, three man jury his head was "still sensitive today'', almost a year after the attack.

Bean, 34, of Somerset Road, Sandys, is charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm for allegedly hitting Mr. Carey with a large metal shackle aboard a barge at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club's new pier in Hamilton Harbour.

Bean is black and Mr. Carey -- who suffered a fractured skull -- is white.

Bean was to throw a rope from a Correia Construction tugboat to the barge where Mr. Carey was to secure it.

The court has heard prosecution witnesses say Bean missed on the first throw and then threw the rope directly at Mr. Carey.

Words were exchanged and Bean jumped onto the barge, confronted Mr. Carey, punched him with his fist and then wrestled with him on the deck.

After being separated by co-worker William Peniston, Bean is said to have picked up the shackle and hit Mr. Carey over the temple.

Defence lawyer Delroy Duncan was unable to get Mr. Carey to admit telling Bean "if you're going to have an attitude, you can tie the f***ing boat up yourself, n*****''.

Mr. Carey told the court: "I don't accept that I said anything like that.

Absolutely not. That's not the kind of thing I would say.

"I treat everybody on the job exactly the same,'' he added.

Of his reaction to being punched, Mr. Carey said: "I didn't call him an a**hole. I said don't be an a**hole. I didn't directly call him that.

"That's how we talk on a job site,'' he continued. "It doesn't mean that you don't like a person. It's just what is said when somebody doesn't do something simple like throw a rope a short distance.'' Mr. Carey admitted Bean told him "don't think you can treat me like those other guys out there'' and that it was a plea for respect.

"He said that?'' a seemingly surprised Mr. Duncan repeated, then asked: "He was asking you to show him some respect. And how did you respect him?'' Mr. Carey replied: "Well, he was moaning and groaning as if he had a problem and I told him he could tie the f***ing boat up himself. I didn't treat him any different than I would treat anybody else.'' But Mr. Duncan would not let up, asking: "I'm suggesting that when Mr. Bean said that he was also telling you not to use racial remarks.'' Mr. Carey responded: "But I didn't use racist remarks. That is absolutely not true, I would never use those words to anybody.'' He also rejected Mr. Duncan's questioning on whether he had ever said "blacks should work harder now that there is a new Bermuda'' as Mr. Peniston had said he did on Monday.

The trial continues this morning before Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux.

DISCRIMINATION DIS