A man accused of smashing a glass in a woman's face after a nightclub bust-up has denied deliberately attacking her.

But Ellsworth (Ellie) Wilson admitted the injuries had been caused by his glass which had come out of his hands during the incident at the Spinning Wheel Nightclub on January 27.

Pauline O'Connor suffered a broken nose, a deep cut from just below her eye to her upper lip and a cut to the gumline.

Defence Lawyer Mark Pettingill said: "Do you accept that the altercation caused the injury?'' Wilson, 55, of Mount Hill, Pembroke replied: "If it did I am very sorry. It wasn't intentional.'' The defendant told Prosecutor Charmaine Smith that it was possible the thick bottomed glass could have come out of his hand and hit the victim. He said: "We were two feet away -- anything can happen.'' Asked whether it would take substantial force to break the glass Wilson said "I don't know.'' He is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

But he denied he had deliberately smashed the glass in the victim's face.

He said: "I don't mess around with ladies like that. It's not appropriate.

It's not my thing.'' Mrs. Smith challenged: "Would you not agree that to be slapped in the face by a lady it would not be necessary to smash her in the face with a rock glass?'' He replied: "I don't think it's necessary to hit men in the face with a glass, let alone a lady.'' Asked if he agreed that Ms O'Connor had sustained her injuries as a result of the altercation, Wilson replied: "I agree, yes.'' Wilson admitted he had a fair bit to drink and was feeling "pretty light'' after visiting the Social Club twice as well as the Devonshire Rec before reaching the Spinning Wheel in Court Street, Pembroke.

He told the Supreme Court yesterday: "I was pretty done, but I wasn't falling down.'' Wilson told his lawyer that he was chatting with Diane Simpson in the club when Pauline O'Connor approached and abruptly said "Who are you?'' "I turned, I didn't feel like talking to her. As I turned she brushed me and she said `what did I want down here?.'' "I replied `I don't want you'. She seemed like she had a whole lot to drink.

I turned to go and she brushed me and I said `get off me.' "There was some contact, I pushed her, then she pushed me. She got loud and I got loud with her.

"The f-word was used and it got kind of heated. She was coming like she wanted to challenge me. She was extra bullish.

"I went back to the bar. This girl said who did I think I was and in the meantime hit me upside the head.

"I reacted with a drink in my hand with no intention of hitting her.

"Then she was gone. The next time I saw her was the picture from the lawyer.

I wasn't aware I had struck her. There ain't much light in that bar.'' Wilson denied poking her in the chest and when Mrs. Smith suggested he had said "Don't you know who I am'' to Pauline, Wilson replied he had actually said: "Do you know Diane?'' He said he had little to say to Ms O'Connor after she had asked why she was talking to her sister (Diane Simpson).

Wilson refuted Mrs. Smith's suggestion that he hadn't cooled down after the first row with O'Connor.

He said: "That's your opinion. I didn't do anything in that time.'' She challenged: "I suggest after this incident you intended to challenge Miss O'Connor.'' Wilson replied: "That's what you're saying.'' She said: "Is it not the case that the incident in the night club was the result of your ego being bruised? "I suggest it was bruised because she stood up to you.'' Wilson said that was his point -that O'Connor had been far too aggressive.

Mrs. Smith asked: "This incident occurred because she didn't know who you were and you were upset by that?'' The defendant said: "It didn't mean anything to me. I was cool.'' The trial continues this morning before Assistant Justice Charles-Etta Simmons.