Senior Crown prosecutor Peter Rose QC told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday that after Bradley Thompson first struck Preston from behind,the others joined in,forcing Preston backwards into a raised garden bed where the assault continued until prison officers arrived.
Mr Rose said that Preston received nine stab wounds,multiple lacerations to his face and head and a 15 centimetre laceration down his right jawline,but still managed to kick one of his attackers twice in the head.
Mr Thompson,25,Lucas David Milne and Jason Anthony Evans,both 34,and Aaron Phillip Fenton and Matthew William Lovitt,both 37,have pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally causing injury and affray on July 28 last year.
A sixth accused,who reserved his plea,was earlier sent for trial.