Car dealer Mark Hickman was killed by five or more blows to his head with a baseball bat or crowbar, causing his skull to break into multiple pieces, a Court heard.

Leeds Crown Court heard that the 32-year-old Keighley man, who was found dead at Bridge Lane, Shelf, near Bradford, on February 13 last year, also suffered stab wounds including an 11cm-deep cut to his neck.

Dr Naomi Carter, a forensic pathologist who carried out the post mortem examination on Mr Hickman, told Leeds Crown Court that he died from the severe injuries sustained to his skull and brain.

Yesterday, the jury was told that Mr Hickman of Whin Knoll Avenue, Keighley, suffered injuries including lacerations to his left eye, left eyebrow, neck, left ear, jaw and left leg.

Dr Carter told the court that the stab wounds were possibly carried out with a double-edged knife. Mr Hickman also suffered injuries caused by a weapon such as a baseball bat or crowbar to his head.

David Deakin senior, 52, and Mark Deakin, 30, both of First Avenue, Windy Bank, Liversedge, and David Deakin junior, 26, of Cliffe Street, Staincliffe, Batley, all deny murdering Mr Hickman.

Doctor Carter said the 11cm wound on Mr Hickman's neck would have needed considerable force to have been carried out.

She said: "Someone may have been standing behind him and reached around to stab him.

"I think considerable force had to be inflicted for these injuries because of the very complex shattering of the skull which had just disintegrated.

"The whole of the mid-face had detached from the rest of the skull in relation to the rest of his head."

Dr Carter said following the attack it would have taken minutes or up to an hour for Mr Hickman to have died, although she stressed that because of the injuries it was more likely to be minutes.

The case continues.

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