A WOMAN accused of murdering a rough sleeper said she feared she could be next as she sat in a stairwell watching on as her co-defendants brutally attacked him.

Martin Dines, 56, died in St Mary’s car park in Balkerne Hill, Colchester, in April.

Heidi Kennedy, 47, Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, are jointly charged with his murder, an accusation they deny.

READ MORE: Police piece together the 12 fatal hours in lead up to rough sleeper Martin's death

It is alleged Mr Dines was attacked in Head Street, Crouch Street and in the car park by the group.

There is no CCTV covering the stairwell where he was found.

But giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court today, Kennedy said Miller was insistent the trio went to find Mr Dines who he was angry at for suggesting Hartley had never served in the parachute regiment.

They eventually found him and she said the attack began after Miller had repeatedly screamed in Mr Dines’ face.

Miller demanded to know where his friend Lisa Peck was before beginning an assault which included repeated punches, stamping on his neck, biting his ear and forcing it into his mouth and exposing and attacking his genitals.

Kennedy said Hartley also joined in with the assault but she herself only touched him at the end to try to find a pulse.

“Miller grabbed Mr Dines around the neck and just started punching him,” she said. “I thought ‘This is out of order’.

“As things were going on I was getting more concerned for Mr Dines. I had never seen anything like it.

“For the first bit, Mark Hartley was just standing by not doing anything but he started to get involved punching and kicking Mr Dines several times.

“There was one point where Miller picked him up and threw him against the wall. Blood went everywhere.”

She added: "At some stage he took a break from the punching and kicking and he bit Mr Dines’ right ear lobe.

“He bit it off.

“I remember Miller trying to force his mouth open and trying to make him eat it.

“Hartley was just standing there.

“I think he was taken aback by it.”

She added: “I was in shock - I was so scared.

“I thought if I went they would think I was going to get help and phone the police and I thought I was going to be the next one. I wish I had just ran.”

Kennedy broke down in the witness box saying she could never unsee the events in the car park and didn’t think she could have stopped them.

She said: “Mr Dines didn’t deserve to die whatsoever.

Kennedy said Hartley had suggested throwing Mr Dines’ body in a river before they left and went back to his flat in New Kiln Road.

The two men left her alone for an hour and returned with what Kennedy said was Babycham and then talked of a “masterplan” to flee the country which she said she would not get involved with.

Kennedy, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, Miller, of no fixed address, and Hartley all deny murder.

READ MORE: Rough sleeper Martin Dines suffered 73 wounds before he died

Miller has admitted to Mr Dines’ manslaughter while Kennedy has admitted assaulting Lisa Peck,on the same night.

  •  The trial continues...