A SHOCKED neighbour watched a brutal attack that claimed a man’s life unfold from his bedroom window, a court heard.

Francis Wingfield had been woken by a knock at a door on his street in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Mr Wingfield told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court he looked out of the window and saw a man in a grey shirt crossing his garden, followed by a man in an orange top being restrained by two women.

The man being restrained was Oli Smith-Daye, 29, and the other man was allegedly Charlie Jacobs.

At one point, Mr Smith-Daye hit Jacobs.

Mr Wingfield said: “It was a right hook. A classic punch and it knocked him down. The two women caught up with Mr Smith-Daye and tried to get hold of him. He was backing away from them towards the low wall. He fell backwards over the wall.” He told the jury the man in the grey shirt, said to be Jacobs, got up and he went to the wall.

Mr Wingfield said he saw Jacobs kicking and stamping on something behind the wall. He could not see what.

Jacobs left, but returned a short while later.

Mr Wingfield said: “He hopped back over the wall and went down on one knee and started punching several times. Ten or 20 punches." Another man dressed in dark clothing appeared on the scene carrying a golf club.

Mr Wingfield said he did not see this man hit anyone with the golf club.

The prosecution has alleged the man with the golf club was Alan Didier.

Mr Wingfield said the man behind the wall staggered away and ended up in bushes.

Mr Smith-Daye, of West Avenue, Clacton, died of head injuries later. Mr Wingfield was giving evidence in the trial of two men and a woman accused of murdering Mr Smith-Daye.

The jury have been told Mr Smith-Daye and friend Mark Fletcher had left a party at a house in Trimley Close, Clacton, but returned because for forgotten car keys.

He called through the letter box, which led to Elisha Francois coming out from the house next door and accusing him of waking her child.

The two got involved in a row before the prosecution alleged Jacobs and Didier joined in.

Jacobs, 23, of Beach Road, Clacton, Didier, 42, of Renfrew Close, East London, and Francois, 21, formerly of Trimley Close, Clacton but now living in Amsersham Walk, Harold Hill, deny a charge of murder.

The trial continues.