Shaun Fitton, 26, was fatally injured after being subjected to a horrific attack, covered in white paint while naked, dumped head first into a wheelie bin and hauled around, it has been alleged.

In the dock at Liverpool Crown Court are Rebecca Birt, 22, her boyfriend, Shaun Beatty, 20, both of West Bank Street; Owen Skeat, 23, of Bowling Green Row, and Michael Gerrard, 22, of Rivington Street, all Atherton.

They deny murdering Mr Fitton, of Westhoughton, who was found screaming in agony by police in the back yard of Birt's home in the early hours of August 31 last year.

Prosecuting QC Neil Flewitt says Mr Fitton suffered massive internal injuries when he was subjected to an horrific attack with the handle of a mop.

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He claimed mother-of-one Birt filmed the attack by her co-accused, which he described as sexually motivated and sadistic.

Neuro-pathologist Daniel Du Plesses told the court Mr Fitton had suffered two life threatening injuries – a perforated bowel and traumatic head injuries.

He said both individually could have caused death but could have also been survivable. Together, however, they increased the
risk of Mr Fitton suffering multi-organ failure.

Home Office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson told the jury that Mr Fitton had white paint over his body and nail varnish on his finger and toenails.

A testicle had been bruised where he had been struck.
Mr Flewitt has alleged Mr Fitton's nails had been varnished with red and black and his naked body covered in paint.
(Proceeding)