TWO men stabbed a popular family man to death in a “merciless” revenge attack, a court was told.

Nicholas Bridge and Daniel Onofeghare stand accused of the murder of 36-year-old Anthony Williams on September 19 last year.

The trial for the duo started at Hove Crown Court, where Philip Bennetts, prosecuting, outlined the case against them.

Mr Bennetts said that the two defendants had gone to an address in Park Way in Horsham on September 19 last year, and said the case has a backdrop of drug use and dealing.

According to Mr Bennetts, 18-year-old Bridge, who is also known as Max, went with 19-year-old Onofeghare, known as Ace, because they believed they had been robbed by Mr Williams the previous day.

He said: “Onofeghare sent a text message saying ‘I got rushed and robbed’. Both men went to Anthony Williams’s address intending that he would be killed or at the very least be caused very serious injury. It was a revenge attack.

“It was an immediate attack, they stabbed him on a number of occasions, and one of those wounds caused his death.

“It was a short, merciless and vicious attack.”

Mr Bennetts said witnesses had seen Bridge, of Loughborough Park in Brixton, boasting with a six-inch blade saying: “If anyone tries robbing me, this is what they are getting.”

The two were seen arriving in the area before 5pm, with Bridge going straight for Anthony before attacking him.

Onofeghare is accused of brandishing a knife at others in the flat and preventing them from helping Mr Williams, shouting: “Keep your mouth shut, or else.”

Forensics officers at the scene found blood in various places in the flat, and blood from Mr Williams was later found on the clothing of both defendants.

Bridge was found to be carrying a rucksack which contained a bloodied T-shirt and the alleged murder weapon.

A pathologist said that “severe” force had been used to inflict the killer wound.

But Mr Bennetts said the defendants will claim they were acting in self defence, arriving at the property to buy cannabis before being attacked by Mr Williams with a baseball bat and knife.

Bridge did have a small wound in his trousers and groin from a knife, but Mr Bennetts says scientists have ruled out the murder weapon as the cause.

The duo are set to deny entering the flat with the intention to serious harm or kill Mr Williams, and also deny being the victims of a robbery or attempted robbery.

They both deny the murder. Meanwhile the jury has been told to expect a three-week trial, which continues today.