A TRIAL heard how murder victim Owen Creaney sustained 54 separate injuries to his head, chest and neck during a frenzied attack at a house in Co Armagh.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Alistair Bentley told the jury at Belfast Crown Court that the 40-year-old died as a result of "blunt force trauma to the chest and head as a result of kicking, stamping and punching''.
Stephen Thomas Hughes (29) and Shaunean Boyle (25) are jointly charged with Mr Creaney's murder at a house in Craigavon and blame each other for the attack.
The trial heard earlier this week that Mr Creaney was subjected to a "deliberate and frenzied attack'' and then "unceremoniously dumped'' in a green wheelie bin which was found on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at Moyraverty Court in Craigavon where Hughes lived.
Dr Bentley, who carried out the post mortem examination, told the jury there were 25 separate injuries to the chest and breast bone which was "effectively broken".
In relation to the 29 head and neck injuries, the pathologist said that these were made of up grazes, lacerations, incisions and bruises.
Dr Bentley said some of the injuries "showed very little reaction and they appeared to suggest that they might have occurred after death''.
Trial judge Mr Justice Treacy heard that as well the injuries to his head, Mr Creaney sustained several broken ribs.
There was slight bruising around the heart the victim had a clot on his brain as a result of the prolonged attack.
The deputy state pathologist was asked by prosecution counsel Liam McColloum QC if he could estimate how long Mr Creaney had survived after the attack before he had died.
"I considered a survival time of two to three days. I gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the chest and head.''
Asked by Shaunean Boyle's defence counsel John Kearney QC if all the injuries were inflicted by kicking, stamping and punching, Dr Bentley replied: "I would say they could be but I can't exclude a blunt weapon for some of the injuries.''
Dr Bentley confirmed to the defence counsel that Mr Creaney, who weighed seven and a half stone and was 5ft 6in tall, had cirrhosis of the liver caused by "excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time''.
Both Hughes, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, and Boyle, from Edenderry Park, Banbridge, Co Down were remanded back into custody.
The trial continues.
