Tag #Attempted Manslaughter

What factors contributed to the escalation of the argument into a violent confrontation?

The stabbing stemmed from an argument outside a cafe involving the assailant, the victim, and the victim's girlfriend. The assailant, after insulting the couple, retrieved a knife from his nearby apartment. He attempted to stab the girlfriend before stabbing the victim, who then used pepper spray in self-defense. Prior to the incident, both men had been engaged in an ongoing conflict.