A BAR owner accused of attacking a customer with a saw has denied any involvement in the incident.

Hugh Anderson, right, who runs the Hi Lo Jamaican Eating House in Cowley Road, East Oxford, denies unlawfully wounding Sean Tizard.

A more serious charge of causing wounding with intent was directed to be dropped by Recorder William Andreae-Jones ahead of day three of the 67-year-old’s trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Giving evidence, Anderson, who has run the business for 35 years, said he was pushed over by Mr Tizard, who was then thrown out of the venue by other men. He said he later saw a group of unknown males fighting in the vestibule between the two front doors, but was in pain from pulling a muscle when he was pushed over and so took no action.

Anderson said Mr Tizard must have suffered his injuries at the hands of someone else.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson, the defendant was asked how Mr Tizard’s blood had been found on his shirt.

He replied: “The only way the blood could catch my shirt is going through the door, because there was no contact with me and Mr Tizard, from when he pushed me down there was no contact.”

Mr Ward-Jackson added: “The reason the blood was on your shirt was because you were fighting with these two men (Mr Tizard and his friend William Green).”

“I wasn’t fighting with nobody, not even myself,” replied Mr Anderson.

The trial continues.