A pathologist has told how a stab wound which killed a plumber in an Addingham pub car park was most probably caused by a deliberate blow.

But he conceded that chef Leroy Griffith, who denies murdering Mark Webster, may have inflicted the fatal injury through being "pushed or jostled" by a crowd outside the Fleece Inn.

Giving evidence at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, consultant Home Officer pathologist Dr Kenneth Shorrock said he examined Mr Webster's body hours after he died on April 1.

The prosecution allege that Griffith, 37, of Ridley's Fold, Addingham, had stabbed the 21-year-old as he tried to pacify him following a disturbance at around 1am.

Dr Shorrock said the single 10cm stab wound pierced Mr Webster's aorta - the main artery out of his heart - leading to his death within two minutes.

After studying the wound, Dr Shorrock said it would have taken "moderate force" to inflict and added: "It would require deliberate action on the part of an assailant or for the victim to have fallen quite hard onto the blade".

He added there was a 20cm scratch to Mr Webster's left arm consistent with being a "defensive wound" and said his findings suggested "it was not accidental".

But Graham Hyland QC, defending Griffith, asked whether it was "perfectly feasible" that he had caused the fatal blow by being "pushed or jostled" by a crowd while holding the knife out in front of him, to which the pathologist replied: "It is possible."

The trial continues on Monday.