assaulting three female passengers, suffered a fractured nose after being assaulted by security guards, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

Ship's doctor Ricardo Mejia told the court that the 38-year-old defendant was sitting in his office surrounded by the staff captain, two nurses and other people, not known to him, bleeding from the nose.

"I examined the defendant and checked his nose and saw that he had a fracture and I stopped the bleeding,'' Dr. Mejia said.

He added that the defendant had no other injuries.

The defendant, who was a bartender aboard the ship, has denied breaking and entering the passenger's cabins and sexually assaulting them on the early morning of August 3 while the ship was berthed in Dockyard.

One of the females was a 12-year-old girl.

When cross-examined by lawyer Mr. Rod Attride-Sterling Dr. Mejia said he did not notice the defendant to be violent.

"The blows the defendant received were from two security officers who have a reputation for violence. I heard them threaten to kill him after hearing about the sexual assault incident,'' Dr. Mejia added.

Bar waiter Radu Bodolednu, who is also one of the defendant's roommates, said shortly after 2.30 a.m. on August 3 he was going back to his cabin when he saw the defendant talking to someone and drinking a can of beer.

"I was surprised that he had the beer because I never see him drinking,'' he said.

Raoul Williams, who interpreted the defendant's statements for Police, told the court the defendant stated that on the night of August 2 he went Club 21 in Dockyard and went back to his cabin.

"Just after 4 a.m. he said he went outside to smoke on the top deck and a passenger asked him where the security office was.

"Once they got to the office the defendant saw the man talking to the officers and then they (the security officers) started beating him.'' On Tuesday the court heard that all the females who have accused the defendant of sexually assaulting them identified him as the assailant during several identification parades at the Police Recreation Club.

However, the defendant stated that he had not gone into anyone else's room on the morning in question and did not commit any sexual acts.

The trial continues today before Acting Magistrate Mr. Ken Brown. Mr. Rod Attride-Sterling is for the defence and Ms Charlene Scott represents the Crown.