A teenager bled to death after he was stabbed in the back by a pal at his 18th birthday party.

David Mitchell, 18, plunged a kitchen knife into Paul Best after a row erupted during the gathering at his home on February 13 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Paul had been celebrating coming of age with Mitchell and three other lads.

But with alcohol and cannabis on offer, a few cross words between Paul and Mitchell quickly turned to violence when Mitchell grabbed hold of him and stabbed him with the knife that had been used to cut cannabis.

Prosecutor Brian Forster told the jury: "On the day he was killed Paul Best was celebrating his 18th birthday.

"He was loved by his family and liked by many.

"It was his birthday and the evening was spent in the company of friends. He went out, he went to McDonalds in Peterlee.

"He returned home at about 10.30pm.

"The boys had consumed some alcohol celebrating the birthday. They had smoked some cannabis.

"There was some conversation between the defendant and Paul Best. The defendant jumped up from the arm chair in which he had been sitting and grabbed hold of Paul Best.

"The defendant picked up a kitchen knife which was out on the hearth in the room because that knife had been used in the cutting of the cannabis that had been smoked.

"The defendant was asked to put the knife down but did not do so. The defendant grabbed hold of Paul Best and stabbed him in the back when he was bent forward."

The blade plunged five inches into his back, passed through the lower lobe of his right lung and punctured his aorta - the body's main artery.

Dean Pearce, 21, another guest at the party, witnessed the stabbing at Paul's home in Easington, Co Durham.

He told police: "David picked up the kitchen knife, I think from the carpet, with his right hand and held it by his side with the blade pointing out.

"On seeing this Paul got up out of the chair and said something like put the knife down and don't be stupid.

"At this David went for Paul, grabbingt him around his neck with his left arm, putting his head into David's chest.

"I then saw David raise his right hand back and go to around his ears and i could see he was still holding the knife.

"David then struck down hard and fast with the knife, stabbing Paul right in the middle of his back. The knife seemed to go right into Paul's back.

"David then pulled the knife back out."

Paul was pronounced dead on the sitting room floor of his semi-detached house at North Crescent, Easington , when emergency services arrived a short time later.

Mitchell, also of North Crescent, denies murder and the trial continues.