A murder victim was left almost unrecognisable after being jumped on "like a trampoline", a court has heard. Lee Smyth (32) never regained consciousness and died in a nursing home where he had been in a coma for two years following the attack in Armagh in June 2010. In the dock denying his murder is 24-year-old Gareth mcKinney, with an address at Charles Park, Portadown, and rIr soldier michael Wilson (23), from marlacoo road, Tandragee. Wilson is also accused of stealing a "simple, cheap" tobacco tin from mr Smyth as he lay unconscious. Terence mooney, prosecuting, said his attackers used their "shod feet" as weapons, and continued to do so while their victim was on the ground motionless. He was found covered in blood a few hours later by a woman walking her dog. The accused were arrested in October 2012, four months after a decision had been taken to turn off Mr Smyth's life support. McKinney was arrested at home, and Wilson at the royal Irish regiment barracks at Tern Hill in Shropshire. McKinney, while admitting being present, claimed to have nothing to do with the attack, which he said was carried out by Wilson. Wilson gave a mainly 'no comment' interview, but also claimed not to have been involved. Armagh Crown Court heard that the men, who had drink taken, were not known to one another and met by chance in the Folly area of the city. In the hours beforehand mr Smyth, a heroin addict, had been involved in two other disputes. On one occasion police found him brandishing a stick as he confronted a youth and he was told to go home. He had also been in a temper after going out looking for those who had thrown solar lights from his girl-friend's garden at the house. When he could not find them, he attempted to arm himself with a machete and then a kitchen knife, but was prevented by his girlfriend. The jury heard that mcKinney, a member of the Armagh True Blues band, had been in Belfast at a band parade and was annoyed on his return to discover Wilson in the company of his then girlfriend Linsday Bell. A tearful ms Bell, the key witness in the trial, gave evidence yesterday that mr Smyth had confronted Wilson on the Folly pathway and threw the first punch. They began fighting and she said she asked mcKinney to intervene, but when he ran forward he joined in the fight. Wilson, she said, didn't seem to know what was going on "with the adrenalin" and "it ended up being just more than a fight". She said Wilson kicked the victim "on his body" and mcKinney was also involved, although he did not use his feet, before the fight "just stopped". The case continues. * FATAL ATTACK: Lee Smyth
