TWO men acted like a pack of dogs when they murdered another man in a row over drugs, a court heard.

James ‘Jimmy’ Fitzgerald, 29, died after suffering multiple knife wounds during a fight in Haywards Heath just before Christmas last year.

Lewes Crown Court heard one of his attackers shouted: “That’s what you get,” as he stabbed him several times in the back.

He died 40 minutes later from a heart attack caused by internal bleeding.

The three men fought before Mr Fitzgerald raised a bicycle above his head as if to throw it at his attackers car, shouting: “Come back here and fight like a man.”

James Creaghan and Craig Ghochani got out of the car and ran at Mr Fitzgerald like pack dogs, the court heard.

Eloise Marshall QC for the Crown said: “A witness said they both got out of the car and went for him like pack dogs.

“Kicking and punching him while he was down.”

Mr Creaghan then held the deceased as Mr Ghochani plunged the knife into his back several times on December 21 last year, the court heard.

Miss Marshall said phone records showed all three men were building up to a confrontation between them over a stolen drugs stash.

Mr Creaghan shared a flat with Mr Fitzgerald and all three men were known to each other.

The trio met outside a house at Barn Cottage Lane, Haywards Heath where Mr Ghochani was living with his mother.

Mr Fitzgerald suffered a heat attack and died in the back of an ambulance on his way to hospital.

James Creaghan, 29, and Craig Ghochani, 29 were arrested separately the following day at different locations in Brighton.

James Creaghan and Craig Ghochani both deny murder.

The trial, expected to last three weeks, continues.