JURORS were expected to hear evidence today from the medical expert who examined the battered body of Peter Robinson.

Doctor Peter Cooper, a forensic pathologist, will be questioned on the sixth day of the kick-to-death murder trial at Leeds Crown Court.

He conducted a post-mortem examination on the body of Mr Robinson, 50, who was found dead on the floor of a one-bedroom council flat in Trent House, Margaret Street, York, on March 1.

The court has already heard how he suffered multiple injuries to his head and body from a shower of kicks, punches and stamps.

The severity of his injuries were so bad that one man who saw his body wrapped in a red blanket the next day thought he had black skin.

James Goss, QC, prosecuting, said he may have died by suffocating on blood from his injuries or from brain damage caused by repeated heavy blows.

A forensic expert has described how Mr Robinson's blood was found splattered across the bedroom and on the clothes of the three defendants.

John Wood, 39, of Trent House; Wilfrid Barlow, 44, of no fixed address but formerly of Bramham Avenue, Chapelfields; and Paul Darch, 36, of Horsman Avenue, off Cemetery Road, all deny murder.

Witness Karen Bulmer, 37, told the jury that the three men attacked Mr Robinson when he arrived in the middle of a cider drinking. More then 24 hours later, after she and two of the men had resumed drinking, she walked to Fulford police station and raised the alarm.

Yesterday, the jury heard a written statement by Dr Dominic Hewitt, who examined minor injuries to Barlow's hand, and from Detective Sergeant Steve Smith, of York CID, one of the senior investigating officers.

But for the majority of the day the honourable Mr Justice Simon considered legal argument by advocates for the three accused in the absence of the jury.

Updated: 09:32 Wednesday, October 12, 2005