The wife of one of the men accused of murdering Keighley car dealer Mark Hickman broke down in tears as she described how she and her husband had argued on the night of Mr Hickman's death.

Leeds Crown Court heard how David Deakin, 26, left his home in Cliffe Street, Staincliffe, Batley, after rowing with Tracy Deakin, his common-law wife of eight years on the evening of February 13 last year.

Mrs Deakin told the jury: "He was going out a lot.

"We argued about him not spending enough time with me and the children. He then left the house around 6pm."

The court heard how Mr Deakin returned home just before 8pm with a box of chocolates and a Valentine's Day card for his wife.

The body of Mark Hickman, 32, of Whin Knoll Avenue, Keighley, was found in Bridge Lane, Shelf, about 7.30pm on Friday, February 13, 1998. His skull and cheekbones had multiple fractures and his throat had been cut.

David Deakin is jointly accused with David Deakin senior, 52, and Mark Deakin, 30, both of First Avenue, Windy Bank, Liversedge.

They have all denied murdering Mr Hickman.

The jury also heard how Mark Deakin had been out with his friends on a pub crawl known as the Westgate Wobble on the night of the murder.

Friend Christopher Halewood told the jury how Mark had met him at the Ring O' Bells pub at about 8.45pm.

Mr Halewood said: "He stayed out with us on most of the Wobble and then left around 11pm. Mark was his usual self - a bubbly young man."

Another friend, David Waddington, also told how Mark had arrived at the pub around 8.45pm. Mr Waddington said Mark had driven him home around 11.30pm after they had been to get something to eat.

The case continues.

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