A DEALER was fatally stabbed by a rival gang after “selling drugs on their patch”, a court heard.

Dwayne Forrseter, 21, died after being attacked and suffering “catastrophic bleeding” in Little Garth, Pitsea, in July 2018.

Yesterday, a murder trial began at Basildon Crown Court with Jeffrey Goodwin, 26, and Hayden line, 25, both accused of murdering Mr Forrester.

The jury was told that Goodwin, of Russell Road, London, and Line, of Esmond Close, Rainham, were both drug dealers and the pair attacked the victim after he started selling drugs on their patch and to their customers.

Prosecuting, Edward Brown said: “Dwayne Forrester was a drug dealer as were the two defendants, and they were angry at him for selling drugs on their patch and muscling in on their customers and profits.

“They came together to find Mr Forrester who was their rival and he was stabbed once in the middle of the chest. It was a fatal stab wound and it was Hayden Line who stabbed him to the knowledge and encouragement of Jeffrey Goodwin.

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“Hayden Line carried the knife to the scene and it was purposely taken and he wanted to teach Mr Forrester a lesson. The stabbing to the chest cut the aorta major artery and it caused catastrophic bleeding.

“The knife went in about six centimetres and Jeffrey Goodwin shared the intention of Hayden Line to cause Mr Forrester harm.”

He told the court a pathologist found the stab wound cut the edge of Mr Forrester’s lung and cut through the aorta artery.

He said the pathologist also found at least “moderate force”

was used in the stabbing.

Goodwin and Line sat emotionless in the dock wearing dark-coloured suits during the hearing.

Mr Brown added: “Mr Goodwin and Mr Line worked on a drugs line in the Pitsea area selling heroin and crack cocaine.

“It’s possible there was a fight when Mr Line confronted Mr Forrester, who has a large number of abrasions all over his body and two possible defence wounds to his hands.

“The first 999 call came in to emergency services at 8.44pm - two and a bit hours after the attack.”

l The trial continues.