A ROUGH sleeper was killed by a man who had “absolutely lost the plot” and stamped on his head up to 15 times, a court heard.

Martin Dines, 56, died in St Mary’s Car Park in Balkerne Hill, Colchester, in April.

Heidi Kennedy, 47, Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, are jointly charged with his murder but deny the charge.

It is alleged Mr Dines was attacked in Head Street, Crouch Street and in the car park by the group. He had more than 70 separate injuries.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court today, Hartley said Miller dealt out horrific violence including leaning in and biting Mr Dines’s ear before shoving it in his mouth, twisting his genitals and throwing him twice into the floor of the stairwell.

READ MORE: 'There was blood everywhere': Rough sleeper was subjected to 'sustained' attack in stairwell, court hears

He said Mr Dines “yelped” in pain and died after Miller stamped on his head several times.

“It was not just his neck but his face as well,” he said.

“He has got his left leg on the step so the right side of his body was landing on him.

“That is when I believe Martin Dines died - I pushed him off but it didn’t work.

“He was dead - he died there and then. He then stamped again on his neck.”

Hartley said the group had gone to the car park wanting to find Mr Dines or his friend Lisa Peck who they thought had been spreading rumours about him and admitted kicking him three times at the start of the meeting.

He said: “It started with us asking questions - Darren was asking where Lisa Peck was.

“Mr Dines was saying he didn’t know.

“Then the punching came from Darren.

“I was getting annoyed because he wasn’t answering and kicked him once with my left foot and twice with my right.

“The laces went in first - it wasn’t a stamp - it was laces against his face,” he said.

“It was not as hard as you would kick a football but hard enough for it to hurt.”

Hartley said he had then punched Mr Dines “right on the nose” with a short range jab but added he backed off after that because he didn’t want to kill Mr Dines.

He also told the jury he had kicked Mr Dines to the top of the arm in Crouch Street and Head Street while Miller had repeatedly punched him.

Hartley said he had known Mr Dines, also known as Frederick, for three months and had previously invited him to his flat and bought him pizza and beer.

Kennedy, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, Miller, of no fixed address, and Hartley, of New Kiln Road, Colchester, all deny murder.

Miller has admitted to Mr Dines’ manslaughter while Kennedy has admitted assaulting Miss Peck.

Miller blamed Hartley for the worse of the attack while Kennedy blamed Miller.

The trial continues...