An eyewitness to the violence at Wellington Oval refused to testify in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

A ?stressed-out? Antoine Anderson was warned by Crown counsel Shade Subair that he risks a prison term if he doesn?t change his mind when he returns to court on May 25.

Earlier in the day, Ms Subair told the court that she was informed by Mr. Anderson that he has received numerous death threats.

Mr. Anderson said he did not want to press any charges and admitted to feeling threatened.

?I don?t want to give evidence,? he said. ?There are no winners here. I believe it is up to God to give these guys their punishment. I already forgive them for whatever they have done.?

Magistrate William Francis asked Mr. Anderson if he had a good reason not to testify.

Mr. Anderson replied: ?I don?t want issue with anything ... just want it to stop. It is really taking a toll on me. I am human.?

Mr. Anderson said Police threatened to take his car if he did not testify.

?To get me, they had to incarcerate me,? he said. ?They held me for a few hours at Prospect.

?Either I would have been a witness or I would have been charged.?

Mr. Francis allowed Mr.Anderson to consult with a lawyer before returning to court.

Before Mr. Anderson entered the courtroom, Ms Subair said she was concerned about his safety and that of one other witness.

During legal arguments, Elizabeth Christopher, who represents defendant Ki-Jah Russell Butterfield, raised an objection to the ?persistent reference by prosecutors about security and personal concerns? of witnesses.

?It is very unfair to my client,? she said.

Ms Subair said the other witness has had her tyres slashed twice and the Crown would be making an application for her to give anonymous testimony.

But Leo Mills, who represents Wolde Trott and Kavone Earlstone Smith, said he had reservations anonymous witness testimony.

Butterfield, 21, of Paget is charged with possession of an offensive weapon (machete) and going armed to a public place in a manner to cause terror.

Trott, 21, of Paget and Smith, 25, of Southampton, are both charged with possession of an offensive weapon and going armed to a public place in a manner to cause terror.

Jamie Ford, 23, of Warwick, is charged with possession of an offensive weapon, going to a public place with intent to cause terror, and assaulting Antoine Anderson. He is represented by Mark Pettingill.

Trott and Smith originally pleaded guilty to the charges against them but on their second court appearance changed their plea to not guilty.

Ford and Butterfield have denied the charges.

The trial will resume today.