AN IPSWICH flat was left looking like a scene from a horror film after a teenaged drug dealer was stabbed to death.

By JON TUNNEY

At Norwich Crown Court

Jon.tunney@eveningstar.co.uk

AN IPSWICH flat was left looking like a scene from a horror film after a teenaged drug dealer was stabbed to death.

Norwich Crown Court heard the blood-spattered flat in Parkwood, Henley Road, resembled an extract from Jack Nicholson horror flick The Shining.

The prosecution allege heroin addict Big Issue seller Paul Dwyer, 31, of no fixed abode, stabbed his 19-year-old drug dealer Peter Brown 18 times in the neck after an argument - possibly about drug debts. Dwyer denies the murder charge.

Dwyer's on-off girlfriend Tara Smith, who rented the flat where Mr Brown was left knifed to death, said she had nightmares about the blood-soaked scene she witnessed.

But under cross-examination from defence lawyer David Cocks QC, she admitted failing to tell the police the full story of her macabre discovery when first interviewed.

University-educated Miss Smith denied lying to the police, but admitted leaving out important information because she feared for her safety.

Earlier, under questioning from Elizabeth Marsh QC, prosecuting, Miss Smith said she had been getting ready for her shift as a barmaid at The Cricketers pub in Crown Street on the morning of October 25 when she heard Dwyer crying for help from the living room.

Miss Smith was no longer involved in a relationship with Dwyer, but she said he was still living at the flat despite her repeated requests for him to move out.

She said when she entered the living room she found Dwyer on the ground with a young black man standing over him, gripping him by the lapels. She dragged him off her former lover and threatened to call the police.

Miss Smith said both men agreed to leave the flat. She said Dwyer's face was covered in blood, although she could see no sign of any injury.

As she went to pick up her coat from the kitchen, Miss Smith said she saw blood splashed over the work surfaces, on the floor and even on the blinds.

She turned to leave the front door, but as she did so Dwyer leapt up and struck the black man in the face, knocking him unconscious.

The jury were shown photographs of the scene and other pictures of hair clippings left by the then-pony-tailed Dwyer who hastily hacked off his distinctive 'long mohican' hairstyle after the alleged murder.

Mr Cocks asked Miss Smith why she failed to tell police about the blood or the punch thrown by Dwyer - information he described as 'vital'. She said it was out of fear and confusion.

Miss Smith had already told the court that although she had never used drugs, she was aware Dwyer was injecting heroin.

When asked by Mrs Marsh how he funded his habit, she said he made a decent income from selling the Big Issue outside Tower Ramparts shopping centre.

Miss Smith, who said she funded her own lifestyle through an inheritance from her grandfather, also admitted to giving Dwyer about £50 every other day.

Jurors heard police went to the Henley Road flat after a call from Miss Smith. She had loaned the flat keys to Dwyer a few hours after the alleged incident took place and had become concerned when she was unable to contact him.

The court heard Dwyer's apparent disappearance was because he was being treated in hospital for stab wounds - possibly suffered during a revenge attack.

Mrs Marsh had earlier told the court how Dwyer had stolen Mr Brown's white Vauxhall Cavalier and a bag of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone and about £600 in cash.

She said the Cavalier had been forced off the road after a high-speed chase with a Ford Fiesta on the A12 near London Road Sainsbury's.

When police searched the car, they found Dwyer's passport and birth certificate, a bowie knife, crack cocaine and heroin, postal orders made out to Mr Brown and Mr Brown's NHS card.

Dwyer was questioned at Ipswich Hospital and arrested two days later.

The case continues.