Jurors have been told that "at least moderate force" was used to inflict the wounds sustained by an 18-year-old who was stabbed to death in the street.

A jury of seven men and five women has been hearing evidence in the Norwich Crown Court trial of three men accused of murdering Joe Dix who was attacked in Vale Green, Norwich, shortly before 7pm on January 28 last year.

Eastern Daily Press: Vale Green sealed off after fatal stabbing of Joe DixVale Green sealed off after fatal stabbing of Joe Dix (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Hans Beeharry, Benjamin Gil and Cameron Palmer, all 19 and all said to have been "involved in the supply of drugs", are said to have set upon Mr Dix after he left his flat.

Mr Dix was pronounced dead in hospital at 8.06pm, by which time Beeharry, Gil and Palmer had all been playing football, having been taken to the Goals sports facility, in Norwich, by a fourth defendant, Yaman Uslu, also 19, who is accused of assisting an offender.

Giving evidence on Monday (August 7) Home Office pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift said Mr Dix died as a result of "hypovolemic shock".

Eastern Daily Press: Joe DixJoe Dix (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix)

He said Mr Dix had received "three deeply penetrating stab wounds" including to the right side of his chest and left side of his abdomen which would have resulted in "significant internal bleeding".

A stab wound to his right lung "would've caused it to collapse" while the pathologist also found damage to the right side of the diaphragm with a weapon having deeply penetrated the liver.

Dr Swift said stab wounds are normally assessed as being mild, moderate or severe with severe cases being reserved for instances where bone has been damaged by blades.

Eastern Daily Press: Police in Vale Green after the death of Joe DixPolice in Vale Green after the death of Joe Dix (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

He said in Mr Dix's case the blade "was not met by any bone" in any of the potentially fatal wounds meaning "moderate force was used but it doesn't preclude the possibility that severe force was used".

Beeharry, of Bracondale, Norwich, Gil, of Lefroy Road, Norwich and Palmer, of Theobald Road, Norwich, all deny murder.

Yaman Uslu, 19, of Horner Close, Norwich, has pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender.

The trial continues.