A MAN who has admitted he played a part in the death of a rough sleeper said it was his co-defendant who stamped on his head, bit off his ear and injured his genitals.

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.

It is alleged Mr Dines was attacked in Head Street, Crouch Street and in the car park by the group.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court, Miller, who had admitted manslaughter, said Hartley had led the trio to the carpark in a bid to find Mr Dines and his friend Lisa Peck because he believed they had been casting doubt on whether he had served in the Parachute Regiment.

He said Hartley had begun the assault by punching him twice with a "one-two like a boxer" and Kennedy had also slapped Mr Dines.

But he accepted he had attacked Mr Dines after he had told Hartley it was Miller who was making accusations about him being a "fake para."

"I shouted at Martin Dines and punched him hard twice," he said.

"I pulled him down to my knee and kneed him in the head.

"I grabbed hold of him by the collar and threw him all about."

Miller said Mr Dines was pouring with blood at this time and he sat on the stairs because his feet - which are riddle with frostbite - were aching and drank from a can of beer.

He said it was then Hartley who slammed Mr Dines' head against the wall and shortly afterwards pushed him so he landed in his lap.

He then said Hartley bit his ear off and fed it to him.

"He spat it out into his right hand and tried to make him eat it," he said.

"I said ' Mark, calm down you are going too far."

Miller claimed he gave Mr Dines the rest of his beer which he drank.

He then said Mr Dines trousers fell down which led to Hartley grabbing his genitals in one hand and punching them with the other.

Miller said Mr Dines was lying on the landing "in a mess" when Hartley stamped on his head four times in quick succession.

He described Mr Dines going still but did not believe he was dead.

READ MORE: Rough sleeper Martin Dines suffered 73 wounds before he died

Miller also accepted he punched Mr Dines during an earlier altercation in Crouch Street.

The court heard he had known Mr Dines for between 15 and 20 years and saw him everyday when they were both sleeping rough in Colchester.

He described him as loud but never aggressive.

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

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Kennedy has admitted assaulting Miss Peck on the same night.

She has blamed Miller for the majority of the violence and deines attacking Mr Dines herself.

The trial continues