The trial of three men accused of attempted murder during the violence at Wellington Oval last April began yesterday but was soon adjourned for legal arguments.

Ki-Roy Kinta Butterfield, 27, of Cherry Hill Park, Paget, Jahcai Morris, 24, Sylvan Dell, Paget, and Tahir Nesta Bascome, 22, of Dunscombe Road, Warwick, all denied attempting to murder Tariq Foster on April 5, 2004, at Wellington Oval.

The three also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and to going armed in public so as to cause terror.

The trio also each denied possessing an offensive weapon with Butterfield and Morris accused of having a knife and Bascome a machete. Butterfield also pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted wounding on Everest Trott.

In his opening to the jury, Crown counsel Juan Wolffe said the charges related to events at last year?s Friendship Trophy soccer match.

He said a scuffle broke out on the field and Mr. Foster was chopped with a machete on more than one occasion.

?Tariq Foster was also stabbed numerous times in his body, in fact on two different occasions,? Mr. Wolffe said.

He said the victim was stabbed and chopped while lying on his back: ?When he ran away from his attackers he was yet again attacked.?

He said Mr. Foster was hospitalised with wounds to his head, neck, torso, hand and arm.

The trial, in front of a six-man and six-woman jury, resumes today and is expected to last three to four weeks.