Two men accused of murdering an Aberdeen dad tried to revive him after one allegedly beat him with a dog chain, a court has heard.
James Chadwick was found dead in his flat in Holland Street last September, nine days after he was last seen.
Ryan Gibb, 30, and Cameron Laurie, 31, are on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, accused of murdering the 37-year-old labourer.
Today, Carlton Cosier told the court that his friend Gibb had told him Laurie had lashed out during an argument.
The 56-year-old, of Aberdeen, said he’d been told Mr Chadwick had received a “right beating” from Laurie and was knocked unconscious.
He said: “He (Gibb) said Cameron and James had been arguing.
“The argument led to a fight. Cameron picked up a dog lead and James was knocked unconscious.
“Cameron had started hitting James on the head and body with a dog lead and he gave him a right beating.”
Gibb and Laurie deny murdering Mr Chadwick on August 31 or September 1 last year.
Giving evidence via video link, Mr Cosier told the jury he had known Gibb and Laurie for some time, and that Mr Chadwick was an “acquaintance”.
He said Gibb had told him about the fight during a visit to his house.
He told advocate depute Jim Keegan, prosecuting: “He (Gibb) said James had a fight with Cameron and it had been quite serious.
“He said that James had passed out.”
“He said James ended up lying on the floor and was unresponsive and was just twitching.
“He was in a beat up state.
“James was knocked unconscious and they tried to revive him.”
Prosecutors claim Gibb and Laurie murdered Mr Chadwick by hitting him in the face, punching him on the head and body and pushing him.
The Crown also claim that they repeatedly struck him on the head and body with a “dog lead or similar instrument” before repeatedly kicking him and stamping on his head.
Prosecutors further allege the pair attempted to pervert the course of justice by destroying and concealing evidence.
They are also accused of acting in a threatening and abusive manner at a housing support office on Holland Street, Aberdeen on September 1.
The trial, before judge Lord McEwan, continues.
