A PATHOLOGIST believes a man found dead near the home of an alleged drug dealer probably died from a heroin overdose.

Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper said samples taken from the body of Desmond "Dessie" Johns revealed a high level of morphine, which in some cases could prove fatal.

Dr Cooper told Durham Crown Court that he considered that Mr Johns probably died not long after taking the drug.

Dr Cooper was speaking on the sixth day of the trial of Melanie Storey, who is accused of injecting Mr Johns with heroin at her home on Spennymoor's Tudhoe Moor estate, shortly before his death.

The 31-year-old mother-of-three denies a charge of manslaughter and ten counts of supplying a Class A drug, four of possessing drugs with intent to supply and one of witness intimidation.

Mr Johns, 43, of Upper Church Street, Spennymoor, was confirmed dead on arrival at Bishop Auckland General Hospital after being found on a footpath on the estate on the evening of November 5.

The prosecution alleges that he collapsed after being injected with heroin by Ms Storey, who then told two friends to remove his body from the house.

Yesterday, Dr Cooper told the court: "I think the main cause of death was the effects of morphine.

"The fact that the free morphine was so high suggests that death took place quickly after the morphine was injected into the body."

Asked if it was possible Mr Johns suffered a heart attack, Dr Cooper said: "I would describe it as a therapeutic possibility rather than a realistic one."

The trial continues.