A Chinese rugby player has been accused of breaking a Caucasian student's eye socket, nose and giving him a concussion after he was called a 'chink' at Imperial College London.
Sidney Chan, 20, allegedly kicked Stephen Kent, a Kingston University student, in the face twice after Kent called him by a derogatory reference to Chinese people. The matter is being heard at a UK court.
The prosecutor said that Chan provoked Kent by commenting on his hair, which was in 1980s-style mullet haircut. Chan denies commenting on Kent's hair, according to the Daily Mail.
"I never said anything about his hair. He called me a chink. He started throwing punches at me after he fell to the ground after I had pushed him. He quickly got back up and he charged at my group and started throwing punches at me," Chan said.
In CCTV footage of the incident, Chan can be seen being restrained by his friends during the confrontation. However, he breaks free from his friends' hold and hits Kent again.
"Why, given your account that you were frightened and thought that you were being assaulted, why did you seem so eager to get back into the fray and engage Mr Kent?" the prosecutor asked.
Chan said, "Because he was persisting to get back up and continue the fight. I guess at that point I was pretty angry and I wanted to make sure that he stops fighting me."
"You had completely lost your head, that fact that the member of your group was having to lift you forcefully off the ground to get you to move in the direction that everyone else was moving," said the prosecutor.
The footage from the CCTV shows Kent falling to the floor. However, the view was blocked by a parked car. Chan can be seen passing the area twice close to Kent. The prosecutor said that Chan kicked Kent twice in the head during that moment.
"You run behind the car then you turn and then run back in the direction you have just come from," said the prosecutor. "The truth is Mr Chan isn't it, that you know as well as anyone that someone who is on the ground, there's no justification for kicking is there?"
A lorry driver passing by saw Kent on the floor and the prosecutor said that the driver saw Kent's face was puffed up.
Chan has denied one count of wounding with intent. The trial is ongoing.
