THREE men have pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the stabbing of 18-year-old Vito Mazzotta in Eldene last June.
Raffaele Bretti, 20, of Wharf Road, Daniel Peapell, 21, of Trowbridge Close, and Zak Doyle, 19, of Abbeymeads, all admitted their part in the 'frenzied' attack at Bristol Crown Court today, Monday.

The trio had been due to face trial having initially denied attempted murder but a deal was struck between the defendants and the prosecution, in consultation with Mazzotta and police, whereby they admitted the lesser charge.

However, they will all likely face jail when sentenced but David Mauder, acting for the prosecution, said having spoken with those concerned it was the most sensible decision.

Mr Mauder spent much of the afternoon describing the attack and the circumstances which led to Mazzotta receiving life threatening injuries.

The court heard that on the evening of June 12, tension had been mounting between various groups of youths in the Bowleymead area after Bretti and friends had tried to take two bikes belonging to associates of Mazzotta.

By 11.30pm the situation has escalated to a stage where the eventual victim was standing outside a block of flats with his friends, armed with baseball bats, metal pipes and other items, in a shouting match with the defendants who were inside.

A brief stand-off in the entrance way of the flats followed before the defendants, who had armed themselves with knives from the flat of a friend they were in, exited the building.

This was followed by a period of confusion as the groups, totalling around a dozen, chased each other but witnesses described how it ended up with Mazzotta alone with the three defendents. He turned to flee but they jumped him from behind and began a violent assault.

During the attack, witnesses describe how the teen was beaten with a pole, kicked in the head and repeatedly stabbed in the chest, head and shoulders.

It was not possible to determine the exact wounds but it is thought he was stabbed ten times.

Speaking of the guilty trio, Mr Mauder said: “Each had armed themselves with knives, where not in the business of backing off and were looking for an opportunity to use them.

“Mr Mazzotta tried to defend himself but so severe was the attack that he had to curl up into a ball.

“He describes how he thought he was going to die. Indeed, one of his attackers said ‘I hope you die because then you’ll know not to **** with us.”

It was thought to be Peapell who shouted this while another voice shouted ‘Remember who did this, Zac did this’, believed to be Doyle.

Police and paramedics arrived a short time later. Paramedics tried to treat Mazzotta  but he was taken to Great Western Hospital before being transferred to Southmead in Bristol because of the severity of his wounds.

Police searching the area found numerous items, including broken blades and one knife which had a shoestring tied around its handle for a better grip.

Bretti, Doyle and Peapell were arrested several days later and have been in custody ever since.

All three have previous convictions for violence and sat in the dock emotionless throughout the hearing, with the exception of Peapell who smirked when his previous crimes were read out.

Tomorrow, the defence teams will read out mitigating circumstances before Justice Juliet May sentences them.