The friend of an 18-year-old who was stabbed to death in Norwich said he had been called and asked by the victim to come and help as "someone was being robbed".
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was phoned by Joe Dix prior to Mr Dix being attacked in Vale Green, Mile Cross, after leaving his flat early in the evening of January 28 last year.
Norwich Crown Court has been told by prosecutors the group who attacked Mr Dix were wearing balaclavas and were connected to the "world of drugs".
Mr Dix's friend gave evidence on Monday (January 9) during the case of Benjamin Gil, 19, Hans Beeharry, 19 and Cameron Palmer, 18 who have gone on trial accused of murder.
A fourth defendant, Yaman Uslu, 18, is on trial after denying an offence of assisting an offender.
In his evidence, via a video interview given to police after Mr Dix's death, the teenager said Mr Dix, who he referred to as JD, called him as he was about to play FIFA on a games console at a friends' home and said: "It's popping off or it's kicking off, get to Vale Green; someone is being robbed".
The teen, who had been with Mr Dix earlier in the day when they went to the "crack house" at Vale Green, said Mr Dix told him it was "the guy I was with earlier" who was being robbed.
He told police JD just said: "You need to come here now".
The witness said Mr Dix was "very forward and didn't really care" adding that he "just knew what he needed to do for himself, his girlfriend, his family and he would do it."
He said he then made his way to Vale Green from a friend's house but had not realised Mr Dix was actually at the scene.
The teen witness said: "I was there to make sure he didn't go around on his own.
"I know what he's like and didn't want him to do that."
When he got there he said he "just saw the blue lights" and initially thought "police had arrested JD".
On approaching others that were already there the teen was told "JD has been stabbed".
He said he "looked and saw him on the floor".
He said he spent time "holding his (Mr Dix's) hand" before being told to move away from by police and ambulance crews.
The witness said Mr Dix had been "looking into my eyes" and returned home later that evening when he "just started crying".
When asked by officers if he knew why it happened to Mr Dix, the teenager said: "A lot of people didn't like him but a lot of people liked him.
"I can't put my finger on it."
Despite receiving emergency treatment and being taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hostpial, Mr Dix was pronounced dead at 8.06pm.
The jury of seven women and five men also heard evidence from David Waters, who lived in Vale Green and who had known Mr Dix and his partner Lauren Carr.
He had received a delivery of some Star Wars figures at about 6.45pm on January 28 last year but said Mis Carr, Mr Dix's partner, came over "screaming that Mr Dix had been stabbed and was outside on the floor".
He said he "immediately called the ambulance" and could see Miss Carr "holiding his stomach".
The witness also said he told police "there was a sword on the floor".
The sword which was also seen by ambulance crews was said to be a "large knife" which appeared to have a bend towards the end of it.
Gil, of Lefroy Road, Norwich, Beharry, of Bracondale, Norwich and Palmer, of Theobald Road, Norwich, have all denied murder.
Uslu, of Horner Close, Norwich, has pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender.
The trial continues.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article