Either of two knife wounds could have caused the death of a stabbing victim.
One of the blows to Brian Mair’s back was delivered with such force that it went into his shoulder blade. The knife then damaged a rib and pierced through his lung before severing one of the main veins to his heart.
A second wound severed the main femoral artery at the top his the 44-year-old’s right leg.
On Thursday, the High Court at Livingston was told either wound would have resulted in "profuse" bleeding, leading to Mr Mair’s death.
Derek Kinghorn, 44, a friend of Mr Mair, is accused of killing him during an argument in Kinghorn’s flat in Hawick, Scottish Borders.
Kinghorn denies murdering Mr Mair and assaulting Amy Michaels in his home on November 1 last year.
Pathologist Ralph Bouhaidar, 37, who carried out a post mortem on Mr Mair's body, told the jury the victim had 24 injuries. He described a series of cuts on the victim's hands and arms as "classic defensive injuries".
Shown a large, bloodstained kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade which was recovered from the flat, Dr Bouhaidar confirmed that it could have caused the injuries he described.
The trial, before temporary judge Michael O'Grady, continues.
