A Norwich man was stabbed to death by a London drug dealer who was using his flat as a base, Norwich Crown Court has heard.
Prosecutor Andrew Shaw said Steve Stannard, 37, had just picked up some food at McDonald's when he returned home and Hassiem Baqir, 19, killed him, just after 2pm on November 5 last year.
Mr Shaw told the jury in the trial, which opened today (Tuesday, April 18): 'Within minutes of returning to his flat he was viciously murdered. He didn't even get to finish his meal.'
MORE: Steve Stannard's brother tells jury he was not happy about their flat being used for drug dealing
The court heard that Baqir arrived in Norwich from his Thornton Heath home on November 1 to sell drugs for his gang, the Pat and Mikey Group - also known as the Pat and Mick Group.
Mr Shaw said Mr Stannard and his twin brother Eddie were both drug users who shared a flat in Bowers Avenue, Mile Cross, and that Steve Stannard owed money to the drug gang, which he was paying off by helping to deliver heroin and cocaine.
Mr Shaw said Baqir stayed at the Stannards' flat and had been seen with a large machete-style knife, which he said was used for the murder.
Steve was found with multiple stab wounds to his back and front.
Trixy, his pet border collie, was also found with stab wounds.
Mr Shaw said: 'The working theory is that she (Trixy) was also stabbed by Mr Baqir because she must have gone to Steven's defence.'
Mr Shaw said the knife was later found in a recycling bin in nearby Gresham Road, and that Steve Stannard's blood was found on the blade, and Baqir's and Steve' Stannard's DNA were found on its handle.
Baqir has pleaded not guilty to the murder, but admitted to supplying heroin and crack cocaine. Appearing with him in the dock were Veron Antonio, 24, from Surrey, and Jamil Theo Carrol, 28, from London, who have pleaded not guilty to a charge of helping Baqir get out of Norwich after the murder.
Antonio has also been charged with supplying class A drugs, and failing to comply with a section 49 order to supply his mobile phone's pin during the investigation in April this year.
Judge Anthony Bate is presiding over the trial.
The trial continues.
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