A colleague of a nightclub bouncer accused of assaulting a customer has backed his claim that he reacted to provocation from the alleged victim.

The accused man, Jason Harrell, 34, admits kicking Jody Feldman in the head with his steel-capped boot during an early-morning incident at Splash.

However, he denies assault occasioning grievous bodily harm in relation to the head injuries Mr. Feldman suffered, claiming the 28-year-old grabbed his testicles and leg prior to him kicking him in self-defence.

Del Rawlins was working alongside Harrell at the now-defunct nightclub in Bermudiana Road on the date in question, December 2, 2006.

He told the Magistrates' Court trial earlier this week that Mr. Feldman got into a verbal dispute with Harrell after being denied entry to the venue.

Another colleague, Delmon Talbot, took Mr. Feldman across the street to talk to him, said Mr. Rawlins.

However, he later came back and started verbally abusing Harrell again. According to Mr. Rawlins, Harrell kept his back turned to the customer and ignored the abuse, but Mr. Feldman started jabbing him in the back.

"He told him 'don't touch me.' I think he told us first 'don't let this guy touch me'," said the witness.

A manager came over and spoke to the customer, and also denied him entry. When he left, said Mr. Rawlins: "This guy (Mr. Feldman) started jabbing at him (Harrell) again, down by his kidneys area, in the back. He turned around and pushed the guy's arm away. When his hand got pushed away that's when he got more aggressive towards him, to grip him.

"He stepped towards Mr. Harrell, he continued to move forward into Harrell really quick. Harrell had his hands up and he grabbed him around his neck."

A fight ensued, said Mr. Rawlins, with Mr. Feldman refusing the bouncer's request to let him go.

"He wouldn't let go of his neck, shirt, everything," he said, explaining that Harrell eventually released his arms and tried to move away. However, the latter then "grabbed him in his private area".

Describing the accused man's reaction to this, Mr. Rawlins said: "He screamed, and kicked away. It was a reflex action, he kicked away with his foot, everything was flying."

The result, he said, was that Mr. Feldman fell backwards onto the ground and bumped his head.

The court has heard that he needed stitches to close the wound.

The case is scheduled to continue on June 10, with the defendant, of Cut Road, St. George's, bailed until that date.