A man on trial for murder used severe force when he used a large knife to deliver a fatal blow that killed a 23-year-old, a court has heard.
Junior Suleimane, 22, is accused of the murder of Felizardo Jose Viera-Balde, 23, following a chance encounter between the pair outside a Londis store on St Peter's Road in Great Yarmouth in February 2023.
Norwich Crown Court was told Mr Viera-Balde, who died minutes later in a nearby alleyway, suffered a 15cm deep stab wound that cut through his breast bone and punctured his heart causing significant internal bleeding.
READ MORE: Great Yarmouth fatal stabbing was ‘revenge killing’
Dr Ben Swift, consultant forensic pathologist, said his examination had concluded the force used to deliver the fatal blow had been severe.
The trial has heard that Suleimane claims to have acted in self-defence and that Mr Viera-Balde walked towards him as he made a “jabbing motion” with the knife and that he had not intended to kill him.
Dr Swift said that after seeing CCTV footage of the stabbing: “In my opinion, the issue of movement made no meaningful contribution to the level of force.”
Will Carter, prosecuting, has claimed that the stabbing was a “revenge killing” after Suleimane had been stabbed in the leg in an incident a month earlier.
A witness, who was in a relationship with Suleimane’s sister, told the jury that had seen a fight in which Mr Viera-Balde - who he knew as ‘Gordy’ - wielded a foot-long kitchen knife.
“Gordy was attacking him with a knife while Junior had got a piece of wood and was kicking out trying to defend himself,” he said.
READ MORE: Local community in shock after man stabbed to death
Mr Viera-Balde had later sent a message stating “if I can’t get you I’ll get the guy” which he had taken as a threat to himself, he added.
Another witness who lives near the scene of the fatal stabbing told the court he had been threatened by a man he believed to be Suleimane shortly before the attack that killed Mr Viera-Balde.
Giving evidence behind screens, he said he had been left “terrified” after the man had threatened to “shank” him.
The trial continues.
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