THE defence teams of the three men responsible for a vicious attack on Vito Mazzotta last June have been outlining mitigating circumstances ahead of sentencing.

Yesterday, Raffaele Bretti, 20, of Wharf Road, Daniel Peapell, 21, of Trowbridge Close, and Zak Doyle, 19, of Abbeymeads, all pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Bristol Crown Court.

The court was told that on June 13 at Bowleymead in Eldene, 18-year-old Mazzotta was the victim of a serious attack in which he was stabbed ten times.

He received serious injuries and it was only the actions of the emergency services which saved his life.

The representatives of the defendants said the trio accepted the serious of the offence but said it was in response to provocation.

The court was told that in the minutes leading up to the attack, Mazzotta was part of a group all armed and hurling abuse, which approached a block of flats where the three men were attending a party.

This stemmed from an altercation earlier on and led to a confrontation in the entranceway of the building.

Following this, Peapell tried to run for a taxi which had been ordered but was chased and stabbed in the arm.

At this point, Bretti and Doyle, at least one of whom had taken a knife from the flat of the party, came to the aid of their friend.

Following a period of confusion, Mazzotta was left alone with the three when the attack took place, although some witnesses claim Peapell had left the scene before the stabbing took place.

Justice Juliet May has been presiding over the hearing and will sentence the three defendants this afternoon.