The blade of a knife allegedly used in a bid to stab a man to death broke off and embedded in his back, the High Court heard today.
Prosecutors said he was attacked in north Belfast last month during a row over the suspected theft of a mobile phone.
A judge also heard claims the stab victim, aged in his thirties, and a second man sliced across the hand had arrived at the scene on the Antrim Road armed with aerosol cans to use as flamethrowers.
Details emerged as bail was refused to a 19-year-old man charged with attempted murder in connection with the knifing.
Neill Maskey, of Sheridan Street in the city, also faces counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, affray and possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Crown lawyer James Johnston said Maskey, two co-accused and the alleged victims were all drinking together at a flat in the early hours of August 4.
One of the complainants woke later to discover his iPhone missing and, suspecting it had been stolen, went with his friend to confront the other group at another address, the court heard.
As an argument flared just after 8am it was claimed Maskey and a co-accused emerged with knives and launched their attack.
"The injured party was stabbed twice to the top of the back, and the blade of the knife used broke off inside him," Mr Johnston disclosed.
Police believe Maskey was responsible for inflicting those injuries, the court heard.
The second alleged victim sustained a wound to the palm of his hand in the same incident, according to the prosecution.
Detectives have seized footage taken from CCTV, members of the public and a Translink bus as part of the investigation.
Kelly Doherty, defending, confirmed Maskey denies all charges against him.
She said her client accepted being present during the altercation with the two injured men.
"The complainants accepted they went armed with aerosols with a view to using them as flamethrowers... albeit they said to use in self-defence," Ms Dohery told the court.
The barrister argued that the attempted murder charge is difficult to prove, requiring the need to establish an actual intent to kill .
But Mr Justice Treacy responded by stressing the circumstances alleged by the prosecution.
"Stabbbing somebody twice in the back with such force that the blade actually broke off and was embedded in the back of the injured party," he said.
"What would that be other than an intent to kill?"
Denying bail to Maskey, the judge added: "I have no confidence he wouldn't commit further offences."
