An alcoholic was murdered in a "callous, bullying revenge attack" for stealing a car with the owner's cherished dog in it, a court heard this week.

The severe beating left Ted Shaxted, pictured left, with his head looking like a pumpkin, swollen to almost double the normal size, and his rib cage broken virtually from top to bottom.

A paramedic said there was so much blood at the 36-year-old victim's Northfleet flat that it looked like an abattoir. He died from his injuries two weeks later.

Marvin Service, 35, of Brandon Street, Gravesend, is on trial accused of murdering Mr Shaxted in December 2007.

A jury was told that three others, Trevor Lees, 39, of London Road, Northfleet, Kelvin Horlock, 33, of Hatfield Road, Strood and Bill Saunders, 31, of Denton Caravan Site, Shamrock Road, Gravesend, all pictured below (l-r) have previously been convicted of Mr Shaxted's murder.

Kenneth Millett, prosecuting, said Service's left palm print was found on the wall of the bathroom where Mr Shaxted was dragged and beaten.

"We suggest that this palm print was in such a position where the person might leave it by balancing themselves on the edge of the bath," he said.

"With one hand supporting the wall, he kicks down on the helpless Mr Shaxted in the bath."

Mr Millett said the background to the killing was a "fairly innocuous incident" in which Mr Shaxted took the car of Horlock's mother Karen and crashed it while drunk.

Mr Shaxted, of Wallis Park, went to the nearby Ebbsfleet Walk home of ex-girlfriend Doreen Goode, where she lived with her sister Karen Horlock, on December 1.

Mr Shaxted had with him three litres of cider. He was joined by John Burke, who was staying with him.

Miss Goode went out and Mr Shaxted then took the keys of Miss Horlock's Peugeot and drove off with her dog in it. He crashed and was arrested.

Kelvin Horlock was told and he became angry.

The next evening Mr Burke returned to the flat after a drinking session to find the front door had been split down the middle.

He saw blood all over the walls and found Mr Shaxted sitting on a settee covered in blood.

Paramedic Angela Massen told police the flat looked like an abattoir.

Service denies murder and manslaughter. The trial continues.