Jake Poole, 22, of Bennett Street, is standing trial in the Warrnambool County Court for the stabbing of two men at a property in Warrnambool last year.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury, intentionally cause injury and recklessly cause injury. 

Openings in the trial occurred on Monday afternoon.

Barrister Morgan Brown said Mr Poole was acting in self-defence.

The prosecution alleged Mr Poole attended a property in Warrnambool’s Glenrowe Avenue about 3am on October 20, 2017.

The victim and his partner, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant at the time, woke to someone banging at the front door and window. 

The victim and his partner went to the door, where the accused demanded the victim give him his phone and keys back. 

Mr Poole then allegedly stabbed the victim with a 30cm knife in the abdomen, arms and genitals. 

The victim’s father came to the door and grabbed the accused before pushing him up against a fence. 

He received a small stab wound before the accused dropped the knife. 

The first victim laid on the kitchen floor bleeding while his partner called 000.

He was taken to the Warrnambool Base Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for a lacerated liver. 

He was then airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and remained there for six days.

Mr Poole allegedly told police that he didn’t know where the victim lived and that his sister’s dog led him 850 metres to the victim's home.

Police attended an incident with Mr Poole about 1.30am that morning, the court was told. 

Mr Poole told police that the victim had taken his phone and keys. 

The trial is set to continue on Tuesday and is expected to last for five days. 

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