A rough sleeper found dead in a town centre car park was repeatedly kicked in the head by two men accused of his murder, a court heard.

Lisa Peck, a close friend of victim Martin Dines, gave evidence at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

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

Miss Peck took the jury through the time she spent with Mr Dines on the evening of April 22, and described a brutal attack, which the prosecution claims was carried out by the trio.

The court heard at about 8pm on April 22, Miss Peck and friend Karl Hughes were sitting outside Fresh Look barbers, in Crouch Street, Colchester.

The pair were joined by Mr Dines who stayed with them for about 20 minutes, before leaving in the direction of Head Street.

About 30 minutes later Miss Peck says he returned with his face “covered in blood”.

She added: “He said Darren Miller and Mark had beaten him up around a corner.”

Miss Peck said Mr Dines told her he had been set upon because he had accused Hartley of never having been in the “paraforce regiment”.

Wiping the blood from her former partner’s face, Miss Peck told the court soon after, the three defendants arrived in the barbers’ doorway.

She said: “They started arguing with Mr Dines and Heidi was saying things like: ‘How can you be so disgusting and say this man has not fought for his country?’

“She then punched him once on his left cheek. It was not a big blow.”

Miller is then said to have started punching Mr Dines repeatedly in the face.

Miss Peck said Mr Dines, who was sitting on the floor, put his arms up to defend himself.

She added: “His punches were hard, and I could hear them hurt him.

“Mr Dines did not stand up; he just cowered.

“Miller kicked him repeatedly in the head with his big black Army style boots.”

Miss Peck said Hartley then joined in kicking Mr Dines in the other side of his head.

She added: “It lasted about five minutes but at the time it felt like half an hour.

“They were swearing at him and using abusive language. I thought: ‘This is getting out of hand now’.”

After Mr Dines left the area, Miss Peck said Kennedy punched her around five times in the face.

Mr Dines is believed to have then headed to St Mary’s car park, where his body was found by a maintenance worker the next morning.

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

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