Chad de Matos, Aaron Mack, and Mitchell Turner were told to return to court on February 5 pending further investigation, their lawyer William Booth said.

The three, aged between 19 and 20, were released on bail following an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday evening.

The Wynberg Magistrate's Court had ordered the three to remain in custody in Pollsmoor prison until Thursday but Booth said there were no legal grounds to have held them held in custody.

The men are from East London and Knysna.

De Matos is a first-year student at the University of Cape Town while the other two are working.

Adonis, a cleaner at a Claremont mall, was attacked on October 17.

Western Cape police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said a case of attempted murder was registered for investigation.

Charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria were also added at the first court appearance, according to an IOL.co.za report.

Booth said the police wanted to speak to two other people who were currently in the Eastern Cape.

"We have arranged that they will go see the police at some point in time."

Sapa