after he pulled one of them over for allegedly driving while impaired.

But the lawyer for the two men accused P.c. Joe McRonald -- who was off duty at the time of the February 25 incident -- of attacking one of them in a "schoolboy punch-up''.

Dexter Heyliger, 33, and Sinclair Smith, 28, both of St. George's, have denied causing and intending to cause grievous bodily harm to P.c. McRonald.

Heyliger further denies driving while impaired and refusing to take a breathalyser test.

Both men are represented by Mr. Philip Perinchief.

P.c. McRonald yesterday testified that he pulled over Heyliger on Middle Road in Warwick on suspicion of drunk driving but was approached by Smith who was in another car and had stopped further up the road.

He said Smith struck him on the side of the head, sending him reeling backward, and then kicked him in the groin. Heyliger joined in kicking and punching him until more Police arrived.

But Mr. Perinchief argued it was P.c. McRonald who first attempted to grab Smith in his chest and was facing Smith when the blow fell.

"Smith said to you, `What's happening, what's going on'. You said: `It's none of your business'. You placed your hand in his chest area to hold him off. You were being officious and had not yet identified yourself,'' Mr. Perinchief told P.c. McRonald in his cross-examination.

But P.c. McRonald, who was riding his own vehicle and was on his way home at the time of the incident, denied he hit Smith. He insisted he showed Heyliger his Police identification after pulling him over.

"I was not aware of harming or hurting Mr. Smith. I was not aware I was pulling his hair out,'' he said after Mr. Perinchief accused him of ripping a dread lock from Smith's head in the "schoolboy punch-up''.

P.c. McRonald angrily replied: "I take offence to that. It was not a schoolboy punch-up. I had to have surgery to remove gristle from my nose. I had surgery on my knee and my ear drum was perforated.'' The trial continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Meerabux.