A blade without a handle recovered by police could have caused the fatal wound to father-of-two David Young in the early hours of New Year's Day, a murder trial has heard.

But a pathologist said it would have been difficult to thrust the whole of the blade in without a handle on it and it was a "slim possibility" that it caused the injury.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court has heard the weapon used penetrated 28-year-old Mr Young's thigh by 7-8cm and severed an artery, which led to his death.

Mr Young, his fiancee Kirsty Bryant, his brother Aaron Young and friends had been walking home to Gillingham after celebrating New Year's Eve at the Casino Rooms in Rochester.

They became involved in a fight in Windmill Road, Gillingham, which ended with Mr Young being stabbed. He was taken to nearby Medway Hospital but died on January 5.

Stuart Porter, 18, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified for legal reasons, deny murder.

Porter, of Buttermere Close, Gillingham, and the other teenager, of Strood, also deny wounding Mr Young's friend John-Paul Smith with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Pathologist Dr Peter Jerreat, who carried out the post mortem examination, said the wound - which was 1.5cm long and about 15cm below Mr Young's groin - "cut in two" the artery.

"As a result of excessive bleeding, he developed a bleeding disorder," he said. "Some times it will bleed and bleed, and that's what happened here."

Dr Jerreat said he did not find any defence-type injuries to Mr Young to fend off a knife attack. There were no other injuries which suggested a major struggle.

The cause of death was multi-organ failure, including blood-clotting.

The force required to cause the wound was moderate on a scale of mild, moderate and severe.

Dr Jerreat said he had inspected the blade, which the 17-year-old had claimed he used to cut up his cocaine and said he had prodded Mr Young with it.

"This weapon could have been responsible for the fatal injury," he said. "Clothing would have to be penetrated as well. It would only occur if the handle was present on to blade to allow it to enter.

"Once through the skin there would be very little resistance. This knife is not particularly pointed. With just the blade only it is really difficult to perform a stab action."

The trial continues.