A "quiet" man died after being kicked in the head by a man as if he was "taking a professional penalty" in a football game, it has been alleged today.

The battered body of Edvardus Barscevicius, 38, was discovered under a duvet on a sofa in a room in Ethelbert Terrace in Margate last July.

Now, Klaudijus Klimanskis, 41, and Aurimas Vilius, 24, have both denied murdering Mr Barscevicius during a “vicious” assault.

Philip Bennetts QC told a jury at Canterbury Crown Court that Mr Barscevicius was discovered with blood on his face, bruising to his ribs and a cut to his body.

“A witness later described an assault taking place on July 1 between 8pm and 9.45 in a yard in Margate," he said.

“One of the men, wearing a grey tracksuit, Vilius, returned to where Edvardus was lying on the floor and kicked him in the head with full force, like taking a penalty kick," he claimed.

The witness later told police: “He (Vilius) took a series of purposeful steps towards the man on the floor and kicked (him) in the head with an almighty toe punt.

“The power of the kick was similar to a professional footballer kicking a penalty and it was done with the same purpose and power... the kick was to the forehead area of his head," he alleged.

The body of Barscevicius was discovered days later under a duvet cover. Vilius is alleged to have been seen wearing “the dead man’s bright white trainers” after the attack.

Mr Bennetts claimed the victim, who was described as a quiet man, had been drinking with Vilius and Klimanskis in Ethelbert Terrace, Margate on July 1 last year.

"I would really call it booting him in the head... it was really vicious" - witness

He told the jury that an argument broke out after Mr Barscevucius was asked to look after the daughter of neighbour Jurgita Sukaityte, and Vilius objected.

The prosecutor said the witness later claimed he saw two men attacking the victim, "punching him from the waist up while he was on the ground".

He added: “They then briefly walked away, leaving him motionless on the floor," the prosecutor alleged.

Mr Bennetts said that after a brief chat, one of the men returned and kicked the victim “with full force”.

The two are then alleged to have assaulted another man before returning to the stricken victim to carry on the attack.

Another witness told police: “I would really call it booting him in the head... it was really vicious”.

Mr Bennetts alleged that Klimanskis later returned to his home with blood-stained grey tracksuit bottoms and a hoody - and wearing the victim’s shoes.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.