Brothers' broken skulls

Arshad and Hasrat Mahmood called at the home of Vincent Watkins claiming a contract to convert a former pub to flats was 17 months late.

Prosecutor Nick Smith said a heated argument started before Hasrat swung a punch towards Watkins, which missed.

Arshad, who intervened between the pair, told the jury that although he was upset, he saw violence as the wrong way to settle a business dispute.

But he slipped over near Watkins' doorstep and then felt a heavy blow to the back of his head.

He claimed he was hit with a crowbar or another metal object, before being kicked and dragged along the ground.

Mr Smith said his brother bent down to help him but also suffered a blow on the head.

The brothers, both taxi drivers, staggered to their cabs bleeding heavily.

But police, who were called to the scene, stopped them driving off.

Watkins, aged 40, of Langdale Drive, Worcester, denies two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr Smith told Worcester Crown Court that either the defendant, or someone acting with him, caused the broken skulls in a joint enterprise.

The brothers and an uncle were partners in the flat conversion project in Wylds Lane, Worcester.

Giving evidence, Mr Arshad Mahmood said when he got to Watkins' home on June 7 last year, another building worker was on the doorstep but left.

He believed other people may have been in the defendant's home watching the World Cup.

He said Watkins gave them verbal abuse before his brother swung a punch. He never saw who attacked him and did not see any weapon in Watkins' hands.

He spent six days in hospital and has been left partially deaf in one ear.

During cross-examination, Adam Western, defending, claimed the brothers were "at the end of their tether" over the contract and got wound up.

Watkins told police he only used his fists to defend himself in a fight with the victims.

He insisted they must have got their skull injuries when they banged their heads on the concrete path.

The trial continues.