THE jury in the trial of a man accused of the murder of his friend were yesterday shown two knives which could have been used in the incident.

Paul Mapps, 26, of Marshfield Road, Trinant, is charged with the murder of Ian Davies following an incident on January 11 of this year.

The jury at Cardiff Crown Court were told that Mr Davies was treated by paramedics at a property on Marshfield Road but later died at the Royal Gwent Hospital at 9.30pm as a result of injuries caused by a single stab wound to his abdomen.

Dr Richard Jones, a forensic pathologist, who carried out the post-mortem said the stab wound had penetrated 16cm into Mr Davies’ liver. He estimated the measurement of the wound to be between 3.4cm and 5cm.

He said: “A severe degree of force would have not been necessary to have inflicted this wound.

“In my opinion the stab wounding and consequent bleeding caused Mr Davies to die.”

The jury were shown two kitchen knives, one red 33.5 cm from tip to handle which was recovered by a police officer at the scene and an orange knife measuring 33.6 metres which was found in the rear garden at a property on Llanerch Road 19 days after the incident.

Both knives were single edged blades but Dr Jones said either blade could have been used in the stabbing or a similar blade. Dr Jones said the tip of the orange knife was slightly rounded and wasn't sharp.

Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC told the court that no blood stains had been found around the entrance of the kitchen door where the stabbing is thought to have taken place.

Mathew Stephens, a forensic scientist, told the court that no hairs or fibres were found on the red knife nor any blood stains. A swab conducted found a mixed profile of DNA on the handle of the red knife of at least three individuals including that of the defendant.

The orange knife had no blood stains but Mr Stephens agreed that stains and other DNA could have been present as it was not found until January 30, 19 days after the alleged stabbing.

Mapps denies murder.

Proceeding.