A MAN allegedly beaten to death over an extra-marital affair suffered a serious head injury and a broken arm, leg and eye socket, the High Court heard yesterday.
Details emerged as a judge granted bail to two of the men accused of the murder in Ballymoney, Co Antrim.
Steven Peck (33) was discovered with a serious head injury near the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on January 3 this year. He died six days later.
Three men, David Austin (54), of Cherry Gardens in Ballymoney, and brothers Stephen McCook (28) and Brian McCook (24), both from Urbal Road in Dervock, are charged with his murder.
Police believe Mr Peck was in a relationship with Austin's wife, and was allegedly lured to the scene of the attack thinking he was going to meet her.
All three men charged with murder were granted magistrates' bail on Monday.
But the prosecution appealed the decision to release Austin and Stephen McCook, citing the risk of interference with the investigation.
It was contended that they played a more central role in the alleged attack.
Crown lawyer Robin Steer said a witness told police he saw two men carrying out the assault at playing fields close to the leisure centre.
The two suspected assailants were seen walking away, joined by a third man in front.
The court also heard David Austin's wife, Helen, approached PSNI officers at the crime scene in the early hours of January 4.
"She told police that she believed her husband was involved in the attack," Mr Steer said.
"She told police she had been having a relationship with the victim and that her husband had come home with blood on his hands which he had washed off."
Following his arrest David Austin provided a statement denying any involvement in the attack.
However, Mr Steer said blood was "found on his brown boots, and that has been linked to the blood of the deceased".
Stephen McCook also denied being part of the assault, claiming he spent the night at home, and only went out to get cigarettes hours later.
It was claimed that CCTV evidence shows him with David Austin at a garage in Coleraine hours after the incident.
Following submissions Mr Justice Rooney ruled that both men should be granted bail on strict conditions to live at addresses outside Ballymoney.
The terms included a ban on any communication with Austin's wife.
