Knife-wielding attackers left a man seriously injured, as the Friendship Trophy soccer final descended into ugly scenes of public violence, a Supreme Court heard.

Tariq Foster was unconscious after he was pursued by two men ? one armed with a blade and another with a machete, the Wellington Oval attempted murder retrial was told yesterday.

Despite people coming to help the victim, Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said Jahcai Morris attacked Mr. Foster with a knife.

The weapon then broke, the jury heard, and a man picked up the blade in a bid to fend off Morris and protect Mr. Foster, who was lying on the ground at the stadium. Mr. Mahoney ? outlining the prosecution case yesterday morning ? said the victim then ran into the clubhouse for safety and eventually lost consciousness inside the St. George's venue. In a day punctuated by legal arguments, the jury of three men and nine women was told how trouble flared at the football match at about 1.30 p.m. on Sunday, April 4, last year.

Ki-Roy Kinta Butterfield, 27, of Cherry Hill Park, Paget; Morris, 24, of Sylvan Dell, Paget, and Tahir Nesta Bascome, 22, of Dunscombe Road, Warwick, all denied attempting to murder Mr. Foster on April 4, 2004, at St George's. The trio also denied grievous bodily harm with intent.

Butterfield also pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon and being armed in public to cause terror.

Morris and Bascome both denied possessing an offensive weapon and being armed in public to cause terror.

Mr. Mahoney said that the complainant got involved in an argument with Butterfield's brother a few minutes into the second game in a day of finals at Wellington Oval.

During this row by the scoreboard, the court heard, Butterfield's brother punched out at Mr. Foster. The complainant hit back and a "scuffle" started. The prosecution alleged Mr. Foster then jumped from the scoreboard onto the field and a chase started. Mr Mahoney said a group of men were about to converge on the victim when Everest Trott jumped out carrying a length of board which he used to fend off the accused.

The court heard Mr. Trott hit Butterfield's brother, who dropped to the field apparently unconscious. The prosecution added that Butterfield ? armed with a knife ? then went after Mr. Trott and "used a knife in an attempt to stab" him. Mr. Trott, however, was able to move himself away and escaped injury.

At this stage, the jury was told, Mr. Foster was walking away from the incident when he was pursued by Morris and Bascome. One had a knife, the court heard, and the other a machete and were with a group who started attacking Mr. Foster behind a goal post.

Mr. Mahoney said Mr. Foster got away again and was this time helped by Kumar Smith. Morris then allegedly attacked the victim with a knife, before it broke. Morris had the handle in his hand while Mr. Smith picked up the blade in a bid to protect the grounded complainant.

The court heard the trial could last between two weeks and one month, although Puisne Justice Carlisle Greaves indicated he did not expect it to last longer than one-and-a-half weeks.

Commenting on the high-profile nature of the case ? the first trial was stopped last year when a juror fell ill ? Justice Greaves added: "This is a matter that occurred during a football match last year, so I guess people that live in Bermuda may have heard about it one way or another."

The trial continues, with Elizabeth Christopher representing Butterfield, Charles Richardson for Morris and Ed Bailey for Bascome.