The jury in the murder case of two men accused of savagely battering a Chatham man with a pickaxe handle has been sent home for the day.

The jurors retired to consider their verdict earlier this morning.

The prosecution has claimed that the victim, Michael Tierney, was beaten and stamped on following an incident in Haig Avenue.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy QC told the jury at Canterbury Crown Court: “The circumstances of his death, you may feel, were utterly senseless.”

George French, 39, of Ansell Avenue and William Fleming, 26, of White Road, both Chatham have denied murdering of the 33-year-old dad of one.

Ms Healy has claimed that on June 15 this year “two drunk men, one of whom was French, kicked through the gate that Mr Tierney had built near his home in Glencoe Road.”

She added: “These men were being aggressive and intimidating to Mr Tierney’s partner and to his neighbours who had rushed to the scene when they heard a noise.

“Mr Tierney took up a pickaxe handle from his house and ran after the two men. The two separated and Mr Tierney pursued French into Haig Avenue, “ she claimed.

The prosecutor alleged that French turned to confront Mr Tierney “and successfully wrestled the pickaxe handle from Mr Tierney’s hands.”

It was then – she said – that French was joined by Fleming who was returning from a trip to the shops and he joined in the “savage beating”.

“These involved blows to the head and torso, with French using the handle and Fleming using his shod feet, kicking and stamping on the prostrate man," she claimed.