A former Marine and retired New York police officer accused of assaulting a DC police officer at the US Capitol on Jan. 6 took the stand Thursday to argue why what on video looks like him swinging a flagpole at officers, charging and knocking an officer to the ground, and then grabbing at the officer’s helmet and gas mask were all in self-defense.

Over four hours of testimony, Thomas Webster maintained that Metropolitan Police Department Officer Noah Rathbun incited a physical confrontation when he made a hand gesture inviting Webster to fight, a claim that Rathbun denied. Webster told the jury that the rest of his exchanges with Rathbun were in response to a “punch” from the officer that felt like a “freight train,” another account that Rathbun denied. Videos played in court showed Rathbun leaning toward Webster and his open hand making contact with Webster’s face; Rathbun on Wednesday described the contact as incidental to his effort to swat at Webster to create distance during a volatile situation.