Tesla-the boss did not mean it literally, when he on Twitter called a british dive for the pedophile, he says.

Elon Musk called not literally a british dive for the pedophile.

It explains the Tesla co-founder during a court hearing in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

According to Musk he defended himself only against the unprovoked insults.

Elon Musk is accused of calling a british huleekspert, which in July last year was to rescue a group of boys out of a cave in Thailand, the pedophile.

British Vernon Unsworth led the way in the attempt to save the 12 boys and their football coach out of a cave, after they had been caught several kilometers inland during a flood.

Unsworth accuse Musk of having called him a "pedo guy" on Twitter and will have the court's word that he has damaged the britens good reputation.

Elon Musk explains in the court on Tuesday that he was very "upset" when he on Twitter described the Vernon Unsworth as a "pedophile guy".

the Dispute between the two men took its beginning when Musk offered a mini sub from his raketselskab SpaceX to pick up the children out of the cave in Thailand.

Unsworth said on CNN that the Musk was only out for pr, and that he could "stick his mini sub up there, where it hurts". Miniubåden was useless for the purpose, he said.

- It was an unprovoked attack on a good-natured attempt to save the children.

I was upset, " explains Elon Musk for the six jurors in the court.

It was wrong and insulting, so I insulted him back, he adds.

Elon Musk is asked by Vernon Unsworths lawyer, Lin Wood. When he asked for the comments, the diver came with, corresponds Musk:

It is idiomatic, just like that I literally thought that he is a pedophile.

Elon Musks lawyer, Alex Spiro, explained earlier on Tuesday that his client would not do any hurt, when he hit out at Unsworth, and that his words were written in anger.

Musk has previously apologised for his pædofilibemærkning.

the Trial in Los Angeles is expected to last five days.

/ritzau/AFP