A murder suspect booted a man in the head as he lay motionless on the ground like "a professional footballer kicking a penalty", it has been alleged.

Edvardus Barscevicius, 38, died following the suspected attack in Margate, with his battered body later found under a duvet on a sofa in a room in Ethelbert Terrace.

Klaudijus Klimanskis, 41, and Aurimas Vilius, 24, have both denied murdering him.

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

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

“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 alleged.

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."

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

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 had objected.

The prosecutor said the witness later claimed he saw two men attacking Mr Barscevucius, "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 power of the kick was similar to a professional footballer kicking a penalty and it was done with the same purpose and power..." - witness to alleged attack

Mr Bennetts claimed 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.

Ms Sukaityte began sobbing in the witness box as she gave evidence against the two defendants.

She told how she had asked Mr Barscevucius to babysit, but broke down before she was able to describe the alleged assault.

The hearing was adjourned for 20 minutes. Ms Sukaityte complained of people staring at her and was allowed to continue her evidence via CCTV from a nearby room.

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