A MAN who died in a drug-fuelled sado-masochistic sex session had never asked to be hurt during his previous loving relationship which lasted several years, his former boyfriend said today (Thursday, March 6).

The man was giving evidence at the trial of Kirk Thompson, 46, who is accused of the manslaughter of David Kochs, 43, originally from the Bishop Auckland area of County Durham.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court has been told that Mr Thompson burnt and cut Mr Kochs, inflicted dozens of injuries with a riding crop and at one point stapled his mouth and one nostril closed.

Mr Kochs died after suffering severe internal injuries caused by an electric toothbrush and metal bar being forcibly inserted into his body.

Mr Thompson later had sex with another man at his flat in Dulverton Court, Jesmond, Newcastle, as the body of Mr Kochs lay nearby under a duvet, the court heard.

When arrested, Mr Thompson told officers Kochs had consented to “extreme no-limits sex”.

Mr Kochs’ former partner, one of 15 witnesses to be granted anonymity in the trial and known as 'Mr A', said Mr Kochs had never before asked to have pain inflicted on him and they had only ever had “normal gay sex” during their time together.

“There was no cutting and hurting," he said. "That is not normal sex. We never had sex that warranted severe hurt or pain.

“Our forte was you can do what you want in your own home as long as you do not hurt or harm any other person.”

Mr A said he met Mr Kochs through a gay website in 2001 and they had a very close and loving relationship until they broke up in 2007, when Mr Kochs said he wanted to have sex with other men.

The pair later became close friends and Mr Kochs told Mr A of having sex with three different men on the same night at times.

Mr A said: “As a single person it is normal to meet people for sex.”

Cross-examined by Nicholas Lumley QC, for the defence, Mr A revealed that Mr Kochs was HIV positive before they had met, but it was “well-managed by medication” and he had been open about it.

He said Mr Kochs never showed any signs of being physically abused.

He had seen him in his underpants at his home in Brisbane Court, Gateshead, weeks before his death and had seen no cuts or bruises on his body.

On the day before the tragedy Mr Kochs seemed “happy and content”, saying he was “going out for a blast” over the weekend.

Mr Kochs’ sister, Lesley Gill, told the court her brother had been born Malcolm David Gallimore and had changed his name by deed poll about 12 years ago.

His nickname was Easy “because he was so easy to get along with”, she added.

Opening the prosecution’s case today (Wednesday, March 6) Robert Smith QC said the jury would hear evidence Mr Thompson, a former vet, “enjoyed inflicting pain on others”.

He and Mr Kochs met on the internet and had been taking crystal meth at the time of the violent episode.

At some point, Mr Thompson became aware that Mr Kochs was either dead or unconscious and he covered him with a duvet on the floor of the living room.

He then invited round another man he had met online and had sex with him as Mr Kochs lay nearby.

Mr Thompson denies charges of manslaughter, an alternative charge of wounding and a third charge of assault occasioning actual body harm on March 2 last year. He has admitted possessing crystal meth.

The case continues.