Two brothers had a dispute last month over a woman. Both were charged with wounding each other and are to appear in court next month.

One of the brothers is complaining that he should not have been charged because he was not the one who started the fight.

He said his girlfriend told him his brother came to her home and was encouraging her to have an intimate relationship with him. When she told him to get out of her house, he began to curse her.

"After my girlfriend complained to me, I saw my brother the next day and asked him about it. He began to laugh, said the woman was no good and I should end the relationship with her. I told him he could not tell me which woman I should talk to and he boxed me."

"I boxed him back and we began to fight. During the fight, he hit me with a stone and I picked up a stone and hit him back. I was just defending myself because he had no right to attack me. He knew he was wrong to interfere with my girlfriend and, instead of apologising to us, he boxed me and began to fight me.

"He ran to the police station after I hit him with the stone and told the police all sorts of lies. When I went to the police station to make a report, a policeman was actually criticising me for attacking my brother. I explained to the policeman what took place, but it seemed he did not believe me.

"My mother, my sister and my neighbours were present when the incident took place and I told the policeman he could talk to them. Anyway, I was arrested and charged with wounding. My brother was also charged with wounding. My mother bailed me and one of my brother's friends bailed him. We are to attend court next month.

"I think it is very unfair that I was charged because I did not start the fight. Do you think the policeman had any right to arrest and charge me?"

The policeman did not witness the incident and it is not his duty to try the case so he has to place the case before the court. It is the duty of the judge to listen to the evidence and decide whether you are guilty or innocent. You said your relatives and your neighbour witnessed the incident. You should ask them to attend court to give evidence for you.