Two Albanians who butchered a man in the street in the bloody climax of a family feud had their sentences upheld by Appeal Court judges.

Vionest Dema and Flamur Topali, both 32, were jailed for life in March last year for the murder of 25-year-old Altin Molita, a club doorman who was stabbed 20 times after his car was surrounded in Palmeira Square, Hove, in May 2004.

Dema had admitted murder, while Topali was convicted after a Lewes Crown Court trial.

Demas brother, Emir, 28, was also convicted of Mr Molitas murder.

Vionest Dema, who ran a cafe in Queen's Road, Brighton, fled the town after the attack, but was arrested at Dover while trying to escape from the country.

He and Topali appealed against the "tariff" imposed by the sentencing court - the minimum time they must spend behind bars before being considered for parole.

Dema was told he must serve at least 17 and a half years, while Topali was given a 16-year minimum.

Both terms were upheld yesterday by Lord Justice Moses, who was sitting with Mrs Justice Dobbs and Judge Sir Michael Wright at the Appeal Court.

The judge said the killing was the culmination of a bitter family feud which ended in Dema, Topali and others seeking out Mr Molita to exact savage punishment.

Mr Molita, who worked at Hoves Pussycat Club, was waylaid in his car during an initial attack in which he was stabbed by Dema.

Although he managed to get away, his car became blocked in by his pursuers, who swarmed around the vehicle.

The doorman managed to huddle for safety in the back seat but Vionest Dema stabbed him repeatedly with a long kitchen knife, causing fatal injuries to the chest and thigh.

Although Topali consistently maintained that he had not wielded a weapon, he was prosecuted on the basis of going along with the joint enterprise of murder.

Lord Justice Moses said neither tariff was manifestly excessive, dismissing their appeals.

Although Topali was not a ringleader in the savage attack, he had accompanied others in pursuance of the feud, the judge said.