TWO men who stabbed each other in a bloody fight have ended up in a Bristol Crown Court dock together as both defendants and victims.
James Russell and Kevin Moss came to blows after an argument at Russell's girlfriend Louise Law's house in Totterdown.
Moss, 48, and Miss Law had had a five-year relationship which ended early last year and by the summer she was going out with Russell, 36.
Opening the case yesterday Stephen Dent, prosecuting, told the jury that on July 29 last year, Miss Law was at home with Russell when she received abusive text messages from Moss, who also kept calling her mobile phone.
Eventually, Miss Law answered and asked him to stop being abusive, before Russell grabbed the phone and allegedly threatened to shoot Moss.
Moss reported the alleged threat to the police, who went to William Street but found nothing to concern them. Russell denied the threat, which did not result in a charge.
Three days later, the court heard, Moss texted Miss Law to say he was going to come round to collect some of his belongings, including a TV and a large electrical massage chair.
Miss Law, who was looking after her 10-year-old son, nephew and their friend at the time, did not reply to the messages. When Moss appeared at 3.15pm that afternoon with his friend Paul Molloy in a removal van, Miss Law told her son to answer the door and say she was not in.
The jury heard Moss walked in and Miss Law confronted him, saying he had no right to come into the house uninvited. It is claimed Moss then assaulted her by pinning her down on the sofa.
Miss Law told the jury: "When Kevin walked in, I felt intimidated because he had no rights to do that. He pushed me onto my sofa and just said basically I was being out of order."
Hearing a commotion, Russell came from an upstairs bedroom, pulled Moss off his partner and the pair started arguing.
Miss Law continued: "Jim (Russell) came in and said 'what are you doing?' Kevin said 'who are you? You're the gunman!'"
Mr Dent told the jury Moss pushed Russell, who then went into the kitchen – where Mr Molloy was standing – and grabbed a large kitchen knife.
He is accused of stabbing Moss in the face, and twice in the back, damaging a kidney, his spleen, his bowel and severing an artery.
The jury heard Mr Molloy came to Moss' aid and the pair pinned Russell to the floor. At this point, Moss picked up the knife that Russell no longer had and stabbed him in the left arm and twice in his left side.
Moss, who lost a lot of blood from his injuries, had an emergency operation to stem the internal bleeding. Russell's cuts were also treated at hospital, as was Miss Law, who had a small cut on her face.
Russell, who now lives in Oldfield Park, Bath, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and Moss, of Woodleigh Gardens, Whitchurch, was charged with wounding with intent, and assaulting Miss Law.
Miss Law told the jury she saw Russell come into the lounge with the knife and Moss threw a coffee table at her partner. She said she couldn't remember seeing Russell stab Moss, but saw Moss stab Russell after he had been pinned to the floor.
"They just started fighting," she said. "It all happened so quick and I tried to get in between them to stop it. I ran out eventually because I obviously got scared when I saw the blood."
Mr Dent said: "Both men have acted viciously with this knife."
Both defendants deny all charges.
The case continues.
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