Vincent Macnamee He told the court he was attacked with a knife and bottle.A SWINDON man who was attacked with a knife and a broken bottle after a row over a woman has told a court he thought he was going to die.
Vincent MacNamee was knifed three times when a gang burst into his friend's house, a jury heard.
He was asleep on the sofa and woke up with them kicking him in the groin.
They smashed a bottle over his head and rammed it into his face repeatedly. Another gang member went to the kitchen, grabbed a large knife, and return to stab him in the stomach and leg.
Four men have appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent.
Bristol Crown Court heard how one of the suspects, Tony Salvatori, began threatening to kill Mr MacNamee days before the attack on August 29, 2004, because he believed he was seeing his ex-wife Amanda Bailey.
Mr MacNamee, 39, who lived in Swindon but has since left the town, said another suspect, Gary Peapell, repeatedly stabbed him with a large kitchen knife.
The attack took place at a house, in Stamford Close, Toothill, after the gang barged in.
Salvatori, 40, of County Road who, the court heard, changed his name by deed poll from Achille Mazotta and was nicknamed Gilly is said to have smashed a bottle over Mr MacNamee's head and then rammed it into his face.
Mr MacNamee, a builder, said: "It was scary. I was in agony. I thought I was going to die."
The court heard how Salvatori and Peapell, 26, of Beechcroft Road, beat the victim.
Two other suspects, Anthony Walsh, 26, of Primrose Hill, Haydon Wick, and Douglas Thompson, 42, of Victoria Road, were laughing and stopping Mr MacNamee's friends from calling the police.
Prosecutor Fiona Elder said: "Vincent MacNamee said the assault on him with the knife only stopped because the knife bent. He believed he was going to die."
Under cross-examination by Salvatori's defence, Nicolas Gerasimidis, Mr MacNamee denied making up the threats over his client's ex-wife.
Mr Gerasimidis said: "This had nothing to do with Amanda? Amanda was never mentioned by Gilly at all."
Mr MacNamee replied: "It's seems to be over her because she was mentioned in all the phone calls and it only happened after I spent the night with her.
"Gilly said 'Do you think my missus would go with you' then I got the bottle in the face. Gary was saying Amanda's my friend."
Miss Elder said the attack only stopped when one of the victim's friends escaped the flat and raised the alarm.
She said: "They attacked him intending to kill him. But fortunately he didn't die."
Two other people, Amanda Bailey, 38, of Bracknell, and Paul Moss, 38, of Cottingham Close, Freshbrook, are accused of assisting an offender.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The case continues and is expected to last three weeks.
Gareth Bethell
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article