JURORS in the trial of those charged with the attempted murder of Swindon man Vincent MacNamee have heard about in-fighting among defendants, yesterday.

It is alleged that Mr MacNamee was stabbed and bottled when a gang burst into a house in Swindon following a row over a woman.

Gary Peapell told Bristol Crown Court that he had been having a relationship with Amanda Bailey, who Mr MacNamee had told an earlier hearing he had slept with and who, the court had already heard, was the partner of one of the other defendants, Tony Salvatori.

Prosecutor Fiona Elder asked Mr Peapell, 26, formerly of Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton, if he considered Bailey to be his girlfriend, to which he replied: "No I wouldn't go that far, I had slept with her a couple of times."

The court heard that the relationship between Peapell and Bailey, 38, of Bracknell who is also a defendant had soured relationships between Peapell and Salvatori since the pair had been on remand. Ms Elder described it as a "source of arguments between you."

Peapell told the court that those involved in the alleged attack had only gone around to talk Mr MacNamee to iron out issues.

He claimed that days before the alleged attack, Mr MacNamee went to Peapell's house wielding a gun and threatening him and his family because he would not sell drugs for him.

In police interviews, Peapell said he had taken the threats from Mr MacNamee quite seriously.

But Ms Elder repeatedly rubbished his claim about the threats, saying: "It didn't happen."

Peapell then told the court that Salvatori whose nickname is Gilly along with several of the accused turned up at his home.

They all decided to get a taxi to Stamford Close where Mr MacNamee had been staying overnight at a friend's house.

"We went to go around and talk to him, and certainly not attempt to murder him," said Peapell. "I went around because of what he said to my family."

Ms Elder questioned why all of them were needed to go to the flat to talk to Mr MacNamee.

Shortly afterwards, the court had to be adjourned after one of the defendants, diabetic Paul Moss, fell ill and a police doctor was called in.

Salvatori, 40, of County Road, and Peapell are charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent while Bailey and Moss are charged with assisting an offender.

Douglas Thompson, 42 of Victoria Road, saw his charge of attempted murder dropped due to a lack of evidence but he still faces a charge of wounding with intent, while Anthony Walsh, 26, of Primrose Hill, Haydon Wick, had the charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent dropped last week.

All have pleaded not guilty to all charges and the case continues.

Anthony Osborne