A man was chopped in the back of the neck by a former friend after telling the friend to stay away from his girlfriend, a jury heard yesterday.Opening the case against the accused, Gregory Tucker, prosecutor Maria Sofianos said victim Kevin DeRosa suffered serious injuries and blood loss in the machete attack.She explained the defendant and victim knew each other and used to be friends. However, Mr DeRosa was in a relationship with a woman at the time of the attack and according to Ms Sofianos: “Mr DeRosa had warned the defendant to stay away from his girlfriend”.On March 3, she said, Mr Tucker went to Elliott Street, Pembroke, armed with a machete at around 8pm. People were outside on the street socialising, and Mr Tucker sat near Mr DeRosa, although they did not speak.As the victim was sending a text message to his girlfriend, Mr Tucker came up behind him and struck him in the back of the neck with a machete, the prosecutor said.Mr DeRosa smashed Mr Tucker in the face with a bottle, but Mr Tucker continued chopping him in the head with the machete, according to Ms Sofianos.The victim fell to the ground face first, and Mr Tucker is then alleged to have punched him in the head and face as they wrestled over the machete. Mr DeRosa was eventually able to pull the weapon away from Mr Tucker, who ran off, said the prosecutor.The victim was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance, and needed surgery for his injuries. He suffered a deep, 25-centimetre-long laceration to the back of his neck, a 15-centimetre wound to his scalp, and a cut to his right wrist that stretched down to his thumb. These were treated with staples and sutures.“Mr DeRosa still has limited mobility in his right hand due to this injury,” said Ms Sofianos.Mr Tucker, aged 42, of Happy Valley Road, Pembroke, is nicknamed “Marka T”, the jury has heard. He denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do so to Mr DeRosa, who is nicknamed “Snot”.He also denies having a machete in a public place, and the case continues.