Two men and a woman have gone on trial accused of murder after a man's half-naked body was found dumped in a stairwell at a Chatham block of flats.

James O'Rourke was wearing just a pair of boxer shorts when he was discovered dead at about 7.20am on a Bank Holiday Monday on August 28 last year.

He was lying face down on stairs between floors four and five at Caulkers House in Shipwrights Avenue.

It is alleged the 29-year-old was allegedly beaten, stabbed and tied up before he was dumped.

In the dock at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent accused of murder are Daniel Fox, 35, Neil Taylor, 36, and 35-year-old Caroline Rushworth.

Mr O'Rourke was seen on CCTV arriving at Rushworth's flat on the sixth floor just before 10.45pm on August 26 last year. He was never seen alive again.

Fox was also seen arriving at the flat that same evening and then leaving at 8.30am the next day.

Fox, of no fixed address, Taylor and Rushworth, both of Shipwrights Avenue, Chatham, all deny murder.

It is the prosecution case that the three defendants acted together in killing Mr O'Rourke.

It was reported at the time that he died from trauma to his face and head. His body was discovered by a resident.

The trial started today and is expected to last up to eight weeks.

The jury, together with Judge Philip Statman, barristers and court staff will go on a view of the alleged murder scene tomorrow.

The trial continues.