A MAN who was found dead in the hallway of his home with a plethora of injuries had been subjected to a sustained assault, a jury has heard.

Michael Brierley, 48, was pronounced dead by a paramedic on November 8 after being discovered by Jeannie Wright, who he had cared for, in the hallway a Nelson bungalow where they lived together.

Paul Reid QC told a Preston Crown Court jury that Naeem Mustafa, who had known Brierley for several months, was responsible for inflicting his life-ending injuries.

Mustafa is accused of murdering Mr Brierley and assaulting Ms Wright when she had tried to intervene.

Mr Reid QC said the injuries were likely caused by ‘a number of weapons’ - one thought to be a metal pole taken from a bed frame.

He said: “The pathologist, Dr Lumb, who carried out the post-mortem examination on Michael Brierley’s body, stated the cause of death as head, chest, upper and lower limb injuries.

“That description belies the number of, and severity of, the injuries inflicted on Michael Brierley which included broken bones to the nose, cheekbones, the skull, an arm, and multiple rib fractures.

"There were lacerations and bruising over many parts of his body, some of which appeared to have been caused by items used as weapons, others by direct heavy blows such as kicks or stamps.”

Mr Reid QC said at one point, Ms Wright begged with Mustafa to stop. He is alleged to have then punched her in the face, causing her to fall. He further denies a count of grevious bodily harm against her.

Later Ms Wright told police she had fallen asleep, waking around noon and finding Mr Brierley in the hall.

The court heard Mustafa had exercised a ‘controlling’ relationship over Mr Brierley for some months, regularly staying in his home and directing the 48-year-old’s benefits into his own bank account.

Jurors heard on the night of November 7, Jodie Clough, who stands trial for assisting an offender, went to the couple’s Berkeley Close bungalow, to meet with Mustafa.

Clough told police she had been drinking beer and smoking crack cocaine in the house with Mustafa, Mr Brierley and Ms Wright.

Neighbours heard male voices arguing inside the house around midnight and then again at around 6am.

CCTV footage from around 7am on November 8 shows Mustafa and Mr Brierley had left the address and walked to a nearby shop to buy beer.

Footage picked up an apparent assault by Mustafa on Mr Brierley, in which he struck him to the face.

Another neighbour then saw the pair return to the bungalow – this was the last time anyone outside of the bungalow saw Mr Brierley alive.

The court heard Ms Wright dialled 999 at 12.41pm stating she had found Mr Brierley on the floor.

A senior paramedic arrived and found Mr Brierley naked from the waist up, with a trainer on only one of his feet.

Mr Reid QC told the court the paramedic became suspicious, noting facial swelling, bruising and a deep cut to Mr Brierley’s hand. He was declared dead at the scene.

The paramedic then spoke to Ms Wright about how Mr Brierley had ended up on the floor, to which she responded that when she had last seen him, he was alive and well.

She claimed he had come home at around 6am that morning, intoxicated, staggering around and telling her he had been the victim of an assault. She said that he told her he was going for a shower, and she fell asleep.

Ms Wright claimed to have found him on the floor when she later woke up. This account, which was also repeated to a police officer called to the scene, was later found to be untrue, the court heard.

By then Mustafa and Clough had left. CCTV showed them going to Mustafa’s mother's home on St Paul's Road, He was wearing different clothing to that which he had been wearing earlier while at the shop with Mr Brierley.

They then left that house before calling a taxi, with Clough making another trip to the shop for cans. Along the way they discarded a pair of trainers.

The pair then went to Santander Bank in Colne before making their way to Clough’s home on Brown Street West.
At around 1.25am the following morning, police went looking for Mustafa – they expected to find him at a different property there. But their attentions were soon drawn to Clough’s home, leading them to knock on the door.

When Clough answered, she initially told officers Mustafa was not there however upon gaining entry they found him in bed.

Mustafa was cautioned and arrested on suspicion of murder, while Clough was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Later they were interviewed over the discovery of Mr Brierley's body.

The trial continues.