The man three people are accused of trying to murder at Wellington Oval had multiple stab wounds when he arrived at hospital, a doctor told Supreme Court yesterday.

Dr. Milan Olesak said Tarik Foster arrived at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment with cuts to the back of his head, a small stab wound below his throat, a stab wound to his ribs and cuts to two parts of his arm and right index finger.

Mr. Foster ? injured when a day of football at St. George?s turned to horrific scenes of machete and knife fighting ? was examined by the consultant surgeon before undergoing surgery.

Questioned by Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney, Dr. Olesak told the jury there was no evidence Mr. Foster?s lungs had been penetrated. The puncture wounds were superficial, he added, and the patient was in a stable condition.

He said the multiple stab wounds on the abdomen were small and the patient?s head injuries were minimal.

The doctor also said Mr. Foster had a five-centimetre cut over his right forearm and a ?fairly deep? cut over the index finger.

After the examination, Mr. Foster was operated on and taken back to the intensive care unit, before being transferred to a general ward where he continued making stable progress. He was discharged after a two-day stay.

Dr. Olesak told the court Mr. Foster?s long-term medical outlook was good, but he may suffer a permanent loss of right hand grip.

Mr. Mahoney asked what could have caused the injuries, and the witness replied that the stab wounds and cuts were inflicted with a sharp instrument ? such as a knife or machete.

The doctor agreed the location of Mr. Foster?s wounds and cuts was consistent with the victim lying on his back, in a defensive foetal position.

Mr. Foster told the jury on Monday how he feared he would be killed when he came under repeated attack from thugs wielding machetes and knives.

Ki-Roy Kinta Butterfield, 27, of Cherry Hill Park, Paget, Jahcai Morris, 24, of Sylvan Dell, Paget, and Tahir Nesta Bascome, 22, of Dunscombe Road, Warwick, all deny attempting to murder Mr. Foster at the Friendship Trophy soccer final on April 4, 2004.

The trio have pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Under cross-examination, defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, for Butterfield, asked Dr. Olesak whether he treated her client?s brother on the same day as Mr. Foster.

The doctor said he did not treat the patient ? who the court has already heard was struck by a board carried by one of Mr. Foster?s friends as violence erupted on the field.

But the doctor added that medical notes indicated Butterfield?s brother had arrived at hospital bleeding under his skull after a fracture.

The doctor said it would take more than a ?light touch? to cause such injuries.

Appearing for Morris, lawyer Charles Richardson asked the medic if he saw any cuts across Mr. Foster?s lower back. Dr. Olesak said he did not.

Butterfield has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted wounding with intent to cause GBH, possessing an offensive weapon and being armed in public to cause terror.

Morris and Bascome have both denied possessing an offensive weapon and being armed in public to cause terror.

The trial continues.