A STABBING victim suffered a succession of injuries, a court heard yesterday.

Chris Cave, 17, was knifed through the heart and collapsed outside his best friend's flat in Burnmore Close, Redcar, east Cleveland.

The prosecution in the case allege that Sean Matson, 20, of Langthwaite Walk, Redcar, murdered Mr Cave following a row which began when the accused started throwing stones at a window.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court was yesterday shown pictures of the injuries suffered by Mr Cave, a father of one.

Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter, who carried out a post-mortem examination described a two to three inch deep stab wound to the chest, which had penetrated the left ventricle of the heart.

A second superficial wound was also found in the middle of Mr Cave's back, while bruising and other abrasions were also recorded.

These and a cut to the hand were evidence of a struggle, said Dr Sunter.

Dr Sunter, who gave the cause of death as haemorrhaging and shock, was shown an 8in knife allegedly used in the attack.

He agreed with prosecution barrister Franz Muller that it was consistent with a weapon that could have caused such injuries.

Mr Matson, who sat impassively in the dock during evidence given by the doctor, denies murder.

The case continues today.