A doctor has told a murder trial jury that a young Atherton man died from a combination of injuries.

Twenty-six year old Shaun Fitton 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, Hindsford, Atherton; Owen Skeat, 23, of Bowling Green Row, and Michael Gerrard, 22, of Rivington Street, both of Howe Bridge, Atherton.

They all deny murdering Mr Fitton 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 has alleged that Mr Fitton suffered massive internal injuries when he was subjected to an “horrific” attack with the handle of a mop.

He has claimed that mother-of-one Birt filmed the attack by her co-accused on Mr Fitton, which he described as a “sexually motivated and sadistic killing”.

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

He said that they could both individually have caused death but could have also been survivable but together increased the risk of him suffering multi organ failure.

The bowel injury, allegedly caused by the mop handle being inserted into his anus four times, caused sepsis which amplified the brain injury, it is claimed.

Home Office pathologist, Dr Charles Wilson, told the jury that when he examined Mr Fitton's body he found he had white paint over his body and nail varnish on his finger and toe nails. A testicle had also been bruised showing he had been struck.

Mr Flewitt has alleged that the defendants had painted his nails with red and black varnish as well as covering his naked body in paint.

(proceeding)