Car dealer Mark Hickman was a "frightened man" who believed his lover's husband was a threat to his life, a murder trial jury heard today.

And according to a close friend, Mr Hickman who had been having an affair with the wife of Richard Mears was suffering "extreme anxiety."

Mr Hickman was found dead at Bridge Lane, Shelf, near Bradford on February 13 last year.

He had been hit so hard with a blunt instrument - probably a baseball bat or crowbar - that his skull, jaw and cheek bones had multiple fractures, his throat was cut and he had suffered "catastrophic" brain damage.

On the second day of the trial at the Leeds Crown Court, the jury heard from a friend of 15 years and fellow car dealer Christopher Brett how Mr Hickman, 32, of Whin Knoll Avenue, Keighley, had gone from being an ordinary "lad" as a joiner for Bradford Council, to a car dealer who carried large amounts of cash.

He said he believed he was trafficking heroin before he was killed.

Mr Brett who runs the Sun Garage in Cottingley said he had heard rumours about Mr Hickman's involvement in illegal drugs and was concerned when Mr Hickman suggested he earned extra cash by "doing some runs", which he declined.

The court heard that Mr Brett had offered to introduce Mr Hickman to David Deakin senior who could act as a "mediator" between Mr Mears and Mr Hickman. At a Cleckheaton pub, The British Oak, Deakin senior met with Mr Hickman to "sort out" his problems with Mr Mears.

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

Mr Brett said Mr Hickman had offered to put £100,000 into "the right business", had loaned him £4,000 and even saw him offer £14,000 in cash at short notice to buy a Porche.

On February 13, the day of his death, Mr Hickman had decided to invest between £60,000 and £70,000 in a joint car business venture with Mr Brett.

Mr Brett knew Mr Hickman was suffering "extreme anxiety" because of a man called Mears. And understood Mr Hickman was a "very frightened man" after an affair with Mears's wife.

Mr Brett hoped Mr Deakin senior would be able to act as mediator between the two men. He said Mr Hickman had believed Mears was a threat to his life and had had cars burned out in his front garden during the night.

The prosecution alleges samples from the Deakin's brothers' cars and from a fire in their step father's garden tied them to the murder scene as well as records of mobile phone calls.

Earlier the jury heard from Stephen Mallinson of Undercliffe, who had tuned into his new radio scanner and heard a mobile phone conversation between two men plotting to kill Mr Hickman.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Bourne-Arton QC said the conversations which Mr Mallinson heard for between eight and ten minutes, were between David Deakin senior and David Deakin junior.

"To his amazement he overheard a conversation which led him to believe he was listening to a murder plan being unfolded," he said.

Snatches of the conversation included: "Dave, don't bring the car down the path. I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll get him to the car. You come round the back, grab him, drag him down the field and slit his throat."

Mr Bourne-Arton said another piece of the conversation was: "Don't bring the car down - it's too risky. If he sees the car he'll do a runner."

He claimed the three members of the Deakin family had murdered Mr Hickman but he added: "As to why they so determinedly attacked him we may never know."

The case continues.

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