A stab victim barricaded himself out on a balcony after being knifed repeatedly in a Belfast apartment, a court has heard.
Police claimed the man broke free and kept a door shut to prevent the attackers getting to him again.
Details emerged as bail was refused to three men from the city all charged with attempted murder over the stabbing at the Pottingers Quay flat on May 6 last year.
Robert Joseph Allen (55) his 29-year-old son Riobard Allen - both from the Short Strand - and Stephen Manning (28) of Vulcan Street, each face a further count of possessing an offensive weapon with intent.
Belfast Magistrates Court heard paramedics and PSNI officers discovered the victim lying on a living room sofa of the second-storey apartment.
He had been stabbed a number of times in the arms, legs and abdomen.
The man was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital to undergo surgery for his injuries, which included a fractured skull, and required nearly 30 stitches and staples to his wounds.
An investigating detective said large amounts of blood were found in the flat and also pooled out on the balcony.
The two Allens were present in the flat when officers arrived, but denied witnessing or involvement in the attack.
Manning was arrested the following day after police were alerted to an alleged attempt to retrieve a bag of discarded clothing from a bin on Mountpottinger Road.
Forensic tests found traces of the victim’s blood on a jacket recovered from that location, the court heard.
In a statement, the victim claimed he was targeted over a previous relationship.
He told police that he had been having a friendly evening at the apartment with both Allens when another man arrived and declared: “You’re not a big lad any more, you’re a horrible b******.”
It was alleged that the father and son defendants then grabbed his arms to restrain him as Manning produced a kitchen knife.
According to the victim’s account one of the accused stated: “Just do him.”
“The defendant believed to be Manning then proceeded to stab the injured party multiple times in the abdomen, arms and legs,” the detective contended.
“The injured party broke free, getting onto the balcony and holding the door shut, preventing the defendants from getting to him.”
Manning allegedly fled the scene after an ambulance was killed, with the victim only coming off the balcony when paramedics and police arrived.
With all three accused denying the charges, the court heard Robert Allen also claimed that he saved the wounded life.
His son stated that the allegations were “all lies”.
Defence lawyers disputed the strength of the evidence against them.
Solicitor Michael Brentnall argued that the CCTV footage does not match up with the police version of events, adding that the individual spotted leaving the apartment has not been properly identified.
But denying bail to each of the accused, District Judge Austin Kennedy ruled: “In my view all three persons were allegedly present.
“There is a serious risk of re-offending and possible interference (with the investigation).”