the view of William Benjamin.

After asking Wayne DeRoza to move three times, Benjamin lost his temper and struck him in the face.

That offence cost him a $250 fine when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with unlawful assault.

Benjamin, 52, of Cobbs Hill Road, Warwick, was watching the Boxing Day game between PHC Zebras and Hamilton Parish at PHC Stadium.

Insp. Peter Duffy, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr. DeRoza said that he was shouting support for one of the sides in view of the defendant. There was an exchange of words and the defendant punched Mr. DeRoza.'' DeRoza suffered bruising to his cheek and cuts to his mouth. Benjamin, a hotel worker, said he was guilty of the assault but said that he had been provoked by DeRoza. He said: "I was sitting in the bleachers and sometimes people would stand in front of me. I asked them to move and they were very cooperative.

"I asked him to move three times but he just `effed me off.' So I slapped him and that was it.'' Mr. Duffy said that DeRoza's statement did not confirm the story that Benjamin had maintained since his arrest.

Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis said: "It seems to me that there must have been something and the punch did not just come out of the clear blue sky.

"I think this reaction was a little too strong, but I can understand it to some degree. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that there was some provocation for this.''