Accused 'on cannabis as a child'

Paul Cavanagh was stabbed to death at the HMV store

A man accused of stabbing a security guard to death had been on drugs since the age of eight, a court has heard.

Paul Cavanagh, 30, of Rockland St Mary, Norfolk, was stabbed to death on 18 December, 2006, at the HMV store in Chapelfield shopping centre, Norwich.

David Watson, 20, of Hackney, east London, denies murdering the guard.

Mr Watson also denies wounding with intent and attempting to wound with intent during a trial being held at Norwich Crown Court.

Dr Richard Latcham, a psychiatrist who interviewed Mr Watson, told jurors the defendant was from a broken home with a violent father and that he had been smoking cannabis since he was aged eight.

Afraid for life

He had twice been expelled from school for violent behaviour and had been dealing heroin and cocaine in London since he was 12, the court heard.

In the interview with Dr Latcham, Mr Watson claimed he had been carrying a knife because he was afraid for his life as he owed other drug dealers money.

Mr Watson told Dr Latcham he had smoked about five cannabis joints on the day of the alleged murder and that he was carrying a large amount of drugs when he was hauled into the security room at HMV.

He said he became desperate to get away before the police found he had drugs and merely wanted to threaten the security guard with the knife.

Mr Watson is expected to give evidence on Thursday.

The case continues.