A pair of drunken animals kicked a defenceless man to death, a court heard yesterday.

Tutu Kabalika, 19, and Dennis Hind, now 20, are alleged to have circled 45-year-old Stephen Miller 'like hyenas' before stamping and kicking his head.

Begged for mercy

The attack, in Eltham last August was witnessed by passing motorist George Howden, who told the Old Bailey how he saw the men kicking a man who was begging for mercy. Saying:

"There was a body on the ground where they were kicking and he was saying, 'please, please stop'. They were like hyenas. They seemed to be taking it in turns to hit him really hard like a football."

The pair were apparently high on cocaine after binging on vodka and beer at a party. Mr Miller was found outside a block of flats and died shortly afterwards in hospital from serious head injuries on 25 August 2007.

'Don't think he's had enough'

When a passer-by tried to help the defenceless man, Hind allegedly said: "I don't think he's had enough."

Prosecutor Martin Hicks QC said:

"We may never know who started the confrontation or why."

Cut throat defence

Kabalika, of Belvedere and Hind, of Eltham have turned on each other in court and adopted a 'cut throat' defence - each blaming the other of inflicting the fatal injuries.

The trial continues