THREE men kicked and punched their drinking partner to death after he offered one of their girlfriends £5 for sex, a jury was told.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Peter Robinson, 50, may have drowned in his own blood from terrible head injuries after being kicked, punched and was stamped on at least 19 times.

The bloody attack at a small council flat in Trent House, Margaret Street, York, left him so badly injured that a man who saw his body the next day thought he was black-skinned.

Leeds Crown Court heard that the three men plotted to attack him after he propositioned fellow drinker Karen Bulmer and asked her to marry him.

After the attack her boyfriend, John Wood, who rented the flat, is said to have told her: "I have to put him out of his misery. I snapped his neck. I told you I would kill for you, girl."

The next day two of his alleged accomplices went out to buy a large carving knife and black bin bag which, the jury was told, they planned to use to cut up and dispose of the body.

John Wood, 39, of Trent House, Margaret Street; Wilfred Barlow, 44, formerly of Bramham Avenue, Chapelfields; and Paul Darch, 47, of Horsman Avenue, have all denied murdering Mr Robinson.

The court heard that Wood's flat was a regular venue for heavy drinking sessions, and that Mr Robinson and Ms Bulmer were living there temporarily. Barlow, a friend of Darch, was visiting for the first time.

The prosecution claimed Wood discussed killing Mr Robinson after he touched Ms Bulmer's breast and offered her £5 for sex several weeks earlier. He was also angry that Mr Robinson had asked her to marry him.

James Goss QC said Wood had a "volatile" relationship with Ms Bulmer, who knew her boyfriend was jealous of her other drinking friends. Mr Goss said Mr Robinson was punched by Wood a week before his death.

When Mr Robinson arrived at the flat on February 28 at about 8pm, Wood said: "You touched my girlfriend," and punched him, said Mr Goss.

The attack escalated and became far more vicious as Barlow and Darch joined in, the court heard. Blood spatter was found on all of their clothes and shoes.

Mr Robinson was hit at least eight times on open and bleeding wounds.

Neighbours reported hearing prolonged banging and thumping.

A pathologist later found he either died from suffocating on his blood, or by brain damage caused by repeated blows to the head.

Mr Goss said: "He died as a result of a brutal and sustained attack in which each other defendants participated.

"John Wood and Wilfred Barlow played the more significant roles, but each defendant was party to the attack in which punches, kicks and stamps were delivered to Peter Robinson's head and body."

The next day, Mr Robinson's body was wrapped in a red blanket, said Mr Goss, and friends were called over to discuss how to get rid of the body.

Barlow allegedly demonstrated that Mr Robinson was dead by giving his body a kick. Earlier in the day he and Darch had gone out and bought the knife and plastic bin liners.

That evening Bulmer walked to York Police station where officers described her as "drunk and distressed". She told them her friend was dead.

Police officers visited the flat and made the gruesome discovery. They immediately arrested Wood and Barlow, who they had found relaxing on the sofa, and arrested Darch elsewhere a short time later.

Updated: 08:19 Friday, October 07, 2005