Youths 'left man dying in street'

Kevin Johnson was fatally stabbed in the chest

A father was stabbed to death by three youths after he confronted them over rowdy behaviour, a court has heard.

Kevin Johnson, 22, died outside his home in Pennywell, Sunderland, in the early hours of 19 May.

Dean Curtis, 18, of the city's Forest Road and two youths, aged 16 and 17 who cannot be named for legal reasons, are on trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

They deny murdering the father-of-one and a separate charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr Johnson, who was father to a seven-month-old, lived in Partick Road with his fiancée Adele Brett, 26, and her seven-year-old child from a previous relationship.

Just after midnight on 19 May he was going to bed when they heard noises, and went to the window to see what the commotion was.

'Struggling for breath'

Prosecutor Robert Woodcock told the court that the three defendants were enticing him out for a fight.

He said: "Kevin was heard to shout: 'If you want to fight just one on one and not the three of you.

"They were beckoning with their hands, walking away from Kevin, clearly enticing Kevin to come towards them.

"All three were closing in on Kevin. One of them was moving his arms across his chest and Kevin was dodging out of the way.

"Two got closer to Kevin as he backed away he appeared to stumble and fall to the floor.

"He got back up and one of the males, the one furthest away, threw a rock or brick at him. It missed and fortunately fell on the road.

"Kevin said: 'You couldn't fight with your hands. You've stabbed me' and collapsed a wall struggling for breath."

'Heightened state'

The barrister read from the transcript of a 999 call Mr Johnson's fiancée made to the police.

In it, Miss Brett said: "I think my boyfriend has just been stabbed. I think he has been stabbed. He's fallen over a wall.

"Three boys have come round the corner causing trouble. He went outside to try and stop them."

The court heard that afterwards the three ran off in a "heightened state".

On nearby Geddes Road they damaged two cars and were heard shouting about stabbing Mr Johnson.

The court was also told that a short time later they approached Jamie Thompson, who was on his way to meet his girlfriend.

He was stabbed in the chest, but survived.

The trial continues.