Phone wires had been cut at the York bungalow where a drug dealer was stabbed to death, a jury heard today.

A shotgun was also found at the property in Welborn Close, Tang Hall, and because the key of the door had broken, it was impossible for anyone to leave through the back door, Leeds Crown Court heard. Forensic scientist, Peter Grant, alleged in evidence that bloodstained clothing worn by the accused, Jason Nicholas Wade, was found in the bedroom of the bungalow.

DNA tests revealed the blood came from both the dead drug dealer, Wayne Nicholson, aged 24, and Wade.

Wade, of Welborn Close, denies murder.

Mr Grant, who is based at Wetherby, agreed that a knuckle-duster knife with a four-inch blade found in the bungalow had not been involved in the incident that left bloodstains in the living room of the bungalow.

But it was likely that a lock knife with a three-inch blade found buried on a path elsewhere in York, had been used, though he couldn't scientifically say for definite. Mr Grant alleged that mugs had been knocked off the television in the bungalow's living room and smashed, and the rug in the same room was rucked up as if there had been a struggle.

Mr Nicholson was found dead in the living room on March 27 last year. Although the one-bedroomed bungalow was generally tidy, the bedroom was not, and items had been taken out of drawers and cupboards and left. The jury has heard that both Wade and Mr Nicholson were drug dealers and that Mr Nicholson went to the bungalow to talk to Wade about missing heroin. In earlier evidence, the victim's aunt, Michelle Clemens, said in a written statement that Wade had been selling drugs for Mr Nicholson. On the day of his death, Mr Nicholson had said he was going to Wade's bungalow but feared he was "being set up".

The aunt's partner, Mark Rishworth, alleged that when he went to the property with Mr Nicholson, Wade told him he could not come in.

He waited nearby for a short time before returning home to Dodsworth Avenue in Heworth, while Mr Nicholson went into the bungalow. Mr Rishworth agreed with defence claims that his brother Mick and Mr Nicholson had beaten Wade up in November 1997.

The trial continues.

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