Pathologists used the presence of maggots to help establish details about the death of a man who was stabbed to death in his flat, a court has heard.
The body of Leslie Smith, 63, was discovered at his property in Suffolk Square, Norwich.
Theodore Lynch, 41, is on trial accused of murdering him during an argument about drugs several days earlier.
Norwich Crown Court has heard evidence from consultant forensic pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift about the nature of Mr Smith's injuries and his body's state of decomposition.
Dr Swift said the victim had received a "stab wound to the neck causing damage to the lung and his blood vessels".
He concluded Mr Smith died as a result of a fatal haemothorax - a pooling of blood in a chest cavity - which was "consistent with a penetrating wound having entered the front of the neck likely a stab wound from a bladed weapon".
He said a vertical defect to the front of the neck, measuring 4.6cm from top to bottom, was "in line" with a "penetrating defect" to the top of Mr Smith's right lung which was 1.5cm across and 2cm deep.
Dr Swift said it was likely the track of the weapon caused damage to veins or arteries which resulted in a litre of blood being found in the chest cavity.
Jurors were told the injury was "entirely consistent" with having been caused by a bladed weapon, namely a knife.
Dr Swift said at least moderate force - the equivalent of a deliberate, forceful punch - was required to cause the fatal wound.
The court heard Dr Swift's post-mortem examination was conducted following an earlier post-mortem examination.
This had been conducted by a histopathologist - who looks at possible natural causes of death, including disease - which suggested there might be an "unnatural" cause of death due to the "significant quantity of blood" found in his chest.
He said the clean lines of the track of the wound could be "distinguished" from the work of maggot larvae.
The murder trial has previously heard how Lynch had earlier gone to Mr Smith's second floor flat to give him money to buy drugs for him.
Later, the two argued after Lynch was told the victim had spent the money and smoked the drugs.
Jurors have seen CCTV footage from Suffolk Square showing Lynch running away from Mr Smith's flat on October 5, 2021, and heading down the stairs "at some speed".
Mr Smith's body was not discovered until almost two weeks later when neighbours reported a "bad smell" to council housing officers.
Dr Swift started giving his evidence on Wednesday before the case was adjourned when a juror fell ill.
The juror did not return on Thursday and the remaining eight women and three men on the jury were addressed by Judge Alice Robinson before the case resumed.
Judge Robinson said: "I regret to say your colleague has been kept in hospital overnight.
"He's not well and won't be able to rejoin us for the remainder of the trial.
"I've discharged him and we will carry on with 11".
Lynch, of no fixed address, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.
The trial continues.
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