THE friend of a man who was allegedly kicked and stamped to death in his home told jurors that constantly reliving the events was ‘ripping’ him apart.

Lee Hardwell became embroiled in fractious exchanges with defence barristers while he giving evidence in the trial of seven men accused of the murder of Michael Phillips.

The key witness, who is giving evidence from an undisclosed location, told jurors that he is still traumatised after watching his friend being ‘kicked to death’.

The prosecution say Mr Phillips, 39, was subjected to a brutal and sustained assault using a cosh, knuckleduster, punches, kicks and stamps, in a house on Rydal Street, Hartlepool, last June.

Mr Hardwell, who is a self-confessed heroin addict and heavy drinker, became agitated as he faced repeated questions from different defence counsel.

Caroline Goodwin QC, representing Lee Darby, also known as Dibsy, who is accused of delivery a potentially fatal blow using a gold-coloured knuckleduster, quizzed the witness about the events of that night.

Mr Hardwell said: “They showed us the video. Mickey was saying he didn’t know what it was about.

“He panicked and tried to run through the door nearest the fish tank when they grabbed him, dragged him back and he wound up next to the fish tank.

“He knew his life was in danger. He knew he was hurt, very hurt. They just stamped on him. They just kicked the death out of him.”

Miss Goodwin asked the witness about an incident involving him and her client from several months earlier in the town.

He said: “The only real meeting I had with him is when he broke my jaw. Are you going to say that’s a lie? I think it’s disgusting. I shouldn’t even have done this.”

When asked whether he told police that Dibsy used a knuckleduster at the time, he replied: “It’s a tool of choice for him. He broke my jaw with one.”

Miss Goodwin told jurors that he told police that he was hit with a hammer during that alleged attack.

Miss Goodwin said Mr Hardwell told officers it was a brace that he was hit with and not a knuckleduster. He replied: “It doesn’t change the fact he broke my jaw and killed my friend.”

She said: “You’re just making all of this up as you go along, aren’t you?” He replied: “Yeah course I am. That’s the sort of bloke I am. It seems like I’m on trial. I’m trying to do the right thing.”

The seven defendants, all from Hartlepool, are Lee Darby, 32, of Ridley Court; Neil Elliott, 44, of Briarfields Close; Gary Jackson, 31, of The Darlings; John Musgrave, 54, and Sean Musgrave, 30, both of Wordsworth Avenue; Craig Thorpe, 36, of Young Street; and Anthony Small, 39, of Rydal Street.

The trial continues.