Teenager bled to death after being stabbed through the heart with zombie knife, court told

A teenage boy bled to death in the street after being stabbed through the heart and lung with a 13.5cm (5.3in) zombie knife in a frenzied attack, a court has heard.

Georgie Mears, 19, from Thornhill, Cardiff, is accused of attacking Tristan Kerr, 17, at a house in Lower Francis Street, Abertridwr, Caerphilly, in February.

Newport Crown Court was told on Tuesday, Kerr collapsed in the arms of a friend and said: "I'm hurting - my side. I love you, bro. You're a good 'un you are."

Mears, along with Connor Palfrey, 24, from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Ricardo Elliot, 27, of no fixed address, and Elexi Manny, 24, from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, all deny murder through joint enterprise.

Kerr was pronounced dead at the scene and a stab wound measuring 13.5cm (5.3in) was later discovered during a post-mortem examination.

Prosecutors said the motive of the alleged attack was unclear, but text messages between Palfrey and Elliot showed they were dealing drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, and discussing the collection of drug debts which they described as "straps".

The pair and Mears were driven by Manny in her Volkswagen Polo around locations in Cardiff and Caerphilly.

The group arrived at the house, which was home to a friend of Kerr, just after 17:30, the court heard.

Kerr went into the house to play the computer game Fortnite and smoke cannabis with friends.

It is alleged Mears went into the house armed with the knife, which witnesses said was about 10 inches long, slightly curved, with holes in it, and purple and silver in colour.

Mears said, "alright boys" - a greeting which appeared to be directed at Kerr, the court heard.

Mears was described as "acting like a gangster", repeating the phrase, "what you want?" while brandishing the knife.

He was followed by Palfrey carrying a wooden stick, which one witness thought might have had a nail in it.

The court was told that 40 minutes before the attack, Palfrey had turned his phone off.

Palfrey warned the other people in the living room not to get involved. Elliot remained in the hallway acting as a look-out.

Michael Jones KC, prosecuting, said the fatal attack on the teenager took less than two minutes.

He said witness Connor Davies described Mears "stabbing and swinging out" at Kerr, who tried to push him away - before seeing the blade of the large knife going into his coat.

Jones said Palfrey watched the attack while holding the wooden stick above his head "as if warning the others not to get involved".

Others in the house believed he was in charge. He told them: "Stay away, let them have it out."

Jones said it was as if Palfrey was the foreman, stopping Kerr's friends getting involved.

"Tristan Kerr died at the scene as a consequence of that attack and that fatal blow deliberately inflicted on him," he said.

"Although that fatal blow was delivered by Georgie Mears, all four of them bear the joint responsibility for, and are therefore guilty of, his murder."

The jury was told Manny "undoubtedly" saw that two of her passengers were pre-armed, and walked into the house immediately after Kerr was fatally stabbed and acted as the getaway driver.

After fleeing the scene in Manny's car, the four were later arrested in Hereford.

The trial continues.