THE victim of a knife attack was a convicted murderer once sentenced to death, a jury was told.

Preston Crown Court heard that Ishtiaq Ahmed was stabbed eight times and his lung punctured when one blow penetrated his rib cage near to Faisals Mini Market, Colne Road, Brierfield.

His small intestine was also punctured resulting him needing corrective surgery.

The jury was told that Mr Ahmed was arrested for a murder which took place in Pakistan in December 1990.

He was convicted in 1992 and sentenced to death.

But the conviction was quashed on appeal in June 1998 and while that decision was under appeal, he came to the UK in 2000, gaining citizenship in 2003.

However December 2004 the Supreme Court in Lahore restored the murder conviction, the jury was told.

Irfan Ali, 38, of Colne Road; Saqib Ali, 28, of Chapel Street; Rizwan Ali, 36, of Castle Street, all Brierfield , and Zumir Khan, 19, of Loxford Avenue, London, deny attempted murder on July 25 last year.

They also plead not guilty to an alternative charge of wounding with intent and violent disorder .

Timothy Brennand, prosecuting, told the jury "Whatever the background is, somebody was stabbed eight times. They were not reckless blows."

He said Mr Ahmed was walking down Colne Road with his nephew and they were due to attend the Mosque.

Mr Ahmed was telephoned and told of some trouble and on investigating they saw a group of Asian men outside the Mini Market.

Mr Ahmed and his nephew could see him arguing with a group and attempting to make peace, the court was told.

Rizwan Ali and his nephew Zumir Khan were armed with a knife, the prosecution alleged.

Rizwan Ali lashed out with the knife but was punched by Mr Ahmed. Zumir Khan also struck out as Rizwan Ali got to his feet.

Mr Ahmed thought he was being punched.

"However it is the prosecution's case that Rizwan Ali was still armed with his knife and was delivering a quick series of blows," said Mr Brennand.

He said shopkeeper Irfan Ali became involved punching Mr Ahmed and knocking him to the floor.

A witness described a "frenzied " attack by Rizwan Ali, the court was told.

He described to police how he saw him repeatedly stab Mr Ahmed to his back as he was on the ground.

He also saw Mr Ahmed try to get up onto his feel and Saqib Ali run towards him and strike a hard blow to his head with a stick Irfan Ali allegedly punched and kicked the complainant and used an empty milk bottle to hit him.

Mr Brennand said Mr Ahmed pleaded with his attackers to stop and that he was innocent.

He heard someone say: "How dare you come to our shop and cause trouble.

"You will pay the price and will remember this as long as you live."

(Proceeding)