approached at least six women on the night he was attacked.

Shy-K, who was working at the Odyssey nightclub on Sunday night, told how Mr.

Mulinga, who was out celebrating after winning the Race Weekend 10 kilometre race, was repeatedly turned down when he approached several women at the club.

"He was just pressurising any girl that walked in,'' Shy-K said. "He was being really forward and just hitting on these women. He was pestering them all night.

"He started feeling girls' behinds and carried on but he went a bit further than he should have.

"I wouldn't say he seemed drunk but he was obviously feeling good because he approached so many women.'' The DJ's view has been supported by other eyewitnesses who claim they saw Mr.

Mulinga strike a woman outside the Front Street club after she rejected his advances. It is believed Mr. Mulinga was then set upon by the woman's friend.

The affair has created a political storm after Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness agreed that Mr. Mulinda's medical costs, which could run into thousands of dollars, will come out of the tax payers' purse.

And although Mr. Edness has since conceded that Mr. Mulinga might have provoked the attack, he insists that the offer still stands.

Mr. Mulinga, 29, is still in hospital after being punched outside the club just after 2 a.m. on Monday. Although now conscious he has persistently refused to speak to reporters about the incident.

He was initially put in intensive care suffering from head injuries but was later removed to a general ward where his condition last night was described as stable.

Police are also remaining tight-lipped about the affair, although they have confirmed that they have interviewed the athlete on several occasions.

A Police spokeswoman said: "We have interviewed a number of witnesses, including one woman. The inquiry is still ongoing although there is no indication that Mr. Mulinga will press charges.''