An alleged murder victim, whose body was found in a makeshift grave, suffered at least 23 stab wounds in the attack leading to his death, a court was told.

Forensic pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper told a murder trial jury at Newcastle Crown Court that small-bladed knife wounds were found across Kieran Williams’ body, including seven to his neck plus others to his hands, arms and feet, which may have been caused while he was possibly trying to fend off the blows.

But Dr Cooper said they included one knife wound to the chest which pierced Mr Williams’ aorta, the body’s major artery, which would have caused an immediate heavy blood loss into the sack surrounding the heart.

The Home Office pathologist concluded that Mr Williams’ death was caused by haemorrhaging, blood loss, due to stab wounds to the chest.

Read more: Trial starts of Sunderland pair accused of murder of Kieran Williams

He estimated 18-year-old Mr Williams would have died fairly quickly after the wounds were inflicted.

Dr Cooper conducted his post-mortem just days after the body was found in a deep, possibly pre-dug grave, amidst trees and bushes in a secluded spot, on former industrial land, on the southern banks of the River Wear, in Sunderland, in early June last year.

It was six weeks after the last reported sighting of Mr Williams, on April 18, Easter Monday.

Read more: Accused duo were at scene of alleged Sunderland murder, jury told

Dr Cooper examined the body in situ, in the burial site, at 9.30pm on June 2 last year, before conducting his post-mortem, at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, at 9am on Saturday June 4.

Defendants Ben Cook, 19, and 20-year-old Louis Michael Hackett, have both admitted being present when Mr Williams’ was attacked and his body was placed in the grave.

But each of the pair blames their co-accused for inflicting the fatal knife wounds.

Asked in cross-examination by Mr Hackett’s counsel, Toby Hedworth KC, if the injuries could have been caused by a single knife, Dr Cooper agreed, although he said it would have been, "a relatively small knife”.

Read next:

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               Kieran Williams: Men, 19 and 20, facing trial accused of killing Sunderland teenager

               Kieran Williams: Sunderland crime scene remains as two appear in court

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But the court heard he could not rule out that more than one knife may have been used.

Mr Cook, of Fordfield Road, and Mr Hackett, of Fordenbridge Square, both Ford Estate, in Sunderland, each deny the charge of murder.

The trial proceeds today/tomorrow (Wednesday January 25).