Vincent MacNameeA MAN accused of trying to murder Swindon man Vincent MacNamee has had the case against him dropped.

Bristol Crown Court heard there was not enough evidence to prove Anthony Walsh was at the flat where Mr MacNamee was stabbed and bottled when the attack happened.

The case against Mr Walsh was discharged due to a lack of evidence yesterday on the fifth day of the trial into the stabbing at Stamford Close in Swindon on August 29.

The charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent against Walsh, 26, of Primrose Hill, Haydon Wick, were dropped and he was released from custody.

Tony Salvatori, 40, of County Road, Gary Peapell, 26, of Beechcroft Road and Douglas Thompson, 42, of Victoria Road, are charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent.

Amanda Bailey, 38, from Bracknell and Paul Moss, 38, of Cottingham Close, Freshbrook are charged with assisting an offender.

All five have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Yesterday, the court heard from police officers and witnesses in the area at the time of the incident.

PC Paul Skillen, of Swindon police, described how he had been called to flat following the attack.

In a written statement read to the court, he said: "There was a lot of blood on his clothing. I told him I needed to have a better look at the wound and I lifted the clothing off the wound, and I could see part of his intestine protruding from his wound. I spoke to the male, and he opened his eyes, and I asked him what happened, he mumbled that he had been bottled and stabbed with a long kitchen knife."

When asked who carried out the attack, Mr MacNamee, replied 'Gilly', referring to Salvatori's nickname.

The court also heard a written statement from Kathleen Green, 78, of Stamford Close, one of the first people on the scene of the incident.

Mr MacNamee pressed the buzzer to her flat and she found him on the floor outside.

She said: "He was slumped on the floor, bleeding heavily. He was saying 'Help me, help me'." She said she stayed with Mr MacNamee until the police arrived.

The court also heard from PC James Martin, who began house-to-house inquiries shortly after the incident.

PC Martin noted spots of blood on the floor of the communal hallway of the flats and on the path to the flats.

He then spoke to the owner of the flat, Eddie McDonald and noticed smears of blood on Mr McDonald's trainers and jeans and shortly afterwards Mr McDonald was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

At first he did not speak, but then told officers: "It was Gilly Salvatori. Him and six blokes came in and trashed my flat."

The prosecution claims Mr MacNamee was asleep in Mr McDonald's flat when a gang burst in and began attacking Mr MacNamee in a row over a woman.

It is alleged that Mr MacNamee formerly of Swindon, was stabbed three times and bottled in the face.

The case continues.

Anthony Osborne