A man on trial for throwing acid over his brother admitted doing so but claimed he was acting in self defence during a family dispute.

Colin Washington, 54, told Supreme Court he grabbed a bucket without realising what was in it, and doused Hastings Harris with the contents.

He claimed the incident arose because Mr. Harris, 67, was threatening to harm another of their brothers, who is mentally ill, with a machete.

Washington said he went to the door of their house in Mount Hill, Pembroke, after hearing this inside. However, Mr. Harris opened the door and threatened him with the same machete causing him to throw the acid.

"Originally I had no intention of acid. I mean, he's my brother," said Washington yesterday. But, he alleged: "He was threatening my brother as well as me and he was serious."

Washington explained the acid was on the premises because he'd been doing tiling work there, and used it to clean tiles. However, he said he did not realise what was in the bucket at the time, just that it was from a construction job and could have been "paint, water, cement".

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves asked: "And you thought that would be fine against a machete?"

Washington replied: "Well I thought it would slow him down."

Mr. Harris told the jury on Monday that Washington harbours bad feeling over the house in Mount Hill, Pembroke, which was inherited from their mother. Washington disputes the ownership of the house, which Mr. Harris said belongs to him and his sister.

There are 11 siblings in the family in total.

Mr. Harris said on the night of the incident, June 7, 2009, Washington was in a rage over the family dispute. He tried to pick a fight, so Mr. Harris chased him off the property waving a machete.

Mr. Harris alleged that Washington made a threatening phone call, then returned and started banging his bedroom blinds and telling him to come out. He said when he opened the back door, Washington threw liquid from a bucket through the screen door at him, causing his face and body to burn. He denied threatening Washington or wielding a machete at that time.

Mr. Harris suffered first degree burns to his face and first and second degree burns to his upper chest and body, according to a doctor's report. He spent two-and-a-half weeks in hospital and says he continues to suffer from blurred vision, which will require further treatment overseas.

Washington, of Grace Lane, Pembroke, denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by unlawfully throwing a corrosive fluid.

The judge is due to sum up the case and ask the jury to consider its verdict today.