Defendants accused of participating in a mob attack on a Hamilton Parish man denied being at the scene of the crime.

A 12-woman jury heard taped Police interviews with Bennett Phipps, Allan Douglas and Kiwaun Gilbert in yesterday's Supreme Court trial.

They are charged alongside Detroy Smith, Damon Darrell, Kyle Tannock Williams, and Kaiwan Trott with attacking Temasgan Furbert near his Midland Heights home.

The 23-year-old was left badly injured after the alleged attack.

Last week he told the jury that a group of 20 to 25 men arrived at his family home on February 27, 2009 between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. They smashed the windows then chased him to nearby North Church Lane where they attacked him with weapons including a power drill, machetes, a baseball bat, helmets and a cane.

Prosecutor Robert Welling said the attack was prompted by a fight the night before involving Mr. Furbert and St. George's residents Jade Foggo and Brandon Trott.

In his taped interview, Phipps said he was sent home from work on the day in question because he had the flu.

"My girl was home and my mom came home," he said. "I was in bed the whole night, I stayed in bed the whole weekend. I went to work on Monday and my boss sent me home again because I was too sick."

He told Police that when he returned to work on Tuesday he was "flabbergasted" when his boss told him Police had been looking for him. He then went to the Police station where he was arrested.

Phipps said he knew Mr. Furbert from their school days at Clearwater Middle School, but had no beef with him.

"I don't know why he called my name," he said.

Mr. Furbert testified that Phipps used a power drill behind his ear and on his side during the attack. Police fingerprint expert Monique Hill found matches for Phipps' fingertips on a visor found at the scene.

When Police asked him to explain this Phipps said he often took rides from friends: "I don't know, that could have been the helmet I used to get home from work."

The jury also heard Douglas' Police interview. He is accused by Mr. Furbert of using a machete to chop his sides during the attack. He told Police he was home in bed at 9 p.m. on February 26. He said he woke shortly after 10 p.m. when he had something to eat and showered.

He told Police that he went to the St. George's Cricket Club with another defendant, Williams, and stayed there until midnight socialising.

He too said he knew Mr. Furbert and had no problems with him.

"There are a lot of names that have been called. It could be fishing. A lot of people in St. George's have been named.

"I [had] been sick for a while, to tell you the truth I was just coming off the flu.

"I know for a fact where I was at that time."

The third taped interview played yesterday was of Gilbert, who Mr. Furbert did not see with a weapon during the attack. A Police fingerprint expert said his prints were found on a visor found at the scene of the crime.

Gilbert told the Police he spent the evening in question at dinner at La Trattoria with his wife and mother-in-law, who was visiting from abroad.

"I had a salad and pizza," he said. "We left after nine and went for a drive around Hamilton as my mother-in-law is not from here. We drove home to St. George's and got there after midnight."

When asked why his fingerprints were found at the scene he replied: "Not sure."

He added that his bike had been stolen and he noticed it shortly before heading to the Police station.

The case continues today.