Night bus murder victim Billy Ward was stabbed nine times including a fatal wound to his heart, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

The 21-year-old was allegedly killed by two black youths after being provoked into a fight on the N159 on his way home in New Addington.

Witnesses have told how he was put into a headlock and then punched repeatedly before collapsing with blood streaming from his chest.

Pathologist Dr Robert Chapman said there were ten stab wounds but two were the entry and exit for the same injury to the armpit.

Two further stab wounds in the area of the armpit did not hit any major blood vessels or organs.

The fatal wound passed between the fifth and sixth rib near the left nipple and then into the left lung and the left ventricle of the heart.

There were also three knife injuries to the back, two of which passed through the left lung. A third partially cut through the 12th rib and passed into the liver.

Finally there were two superficial cuts to the left armpit and the back.

Dr Chapman said the wounds would have required “moderate force” although damage to the bone indicated more severe force.

He added: “The single most significant wound entered the left side of the chest and the left ventricle of the heart but the others would certainly have contributed in the sense of producing haemorrhage.

“All of these stab wounds could have been caused by a knife with a minimum length of 10cm. It is not possible to rule out the use of more than one knife.

“These are quite a common dimension and one often sees stab wounds like this.”

Dr Chapman said there was nothing to indicate the victim had attempted to ward off the blows with his hands or arms.

“There were no injuries of that type here,” he added.

Jurors have heard Mr Ward was on his way home with girlfriend Carrie-Ann when he was confronted by Junior Lubango and Starfield Badza, both 19.

The roofer, who was 5ft 11in, well built and weighed 12 stone, was attacked when he followed the pair off the bus at the stop in Gravel Hill, Croydon, about 3am on December 8 last year.

Badza and Lubango blame each other for the fatal injuries.

Lubango, of Pixton Way, Forestdale, and Badza, from Court Wood Lane, Croydon, both deny murder.

The trial continues.