Murder victim was "kicked like a football"

Hunt (30), of Doncaster Road, Clifton, said co-defendant Dale Jones kicked Mr Ahmed's head "like it was a football" and "jumped on his head with both feet" when he was on the ground.

Hunt says Jones saw Mr Ahmed come out of an alley at around 3am last August 10 and ran after him down Doncaster Road.

A CCTV camera show Jones jogging to catch up, with Hunt following on behind.

Seconds earlier, the same camera recorded Jones running towards a taxi, allegedly to racially abuse the driver.

Hunt claims that he chased after Jones because he was worried about what he might do to Mr Ahmed.

"I was putting my arms around him, trying to stop him and saying he should come back up to mine," he told jurors at Sheffield Crown Court today.

Mr Pitter, defending Hunt, asked: "Why were you running after Mr Jones?"

Hunt replied: "To stop him doing whatever he was going to catch up with Mr Ahmed for.

Hunt says Jones met Mr Ahmed at the end of Doncaster Road and circled him, shouting and calling him a "groomer".

"I said: 'What the f*** are you doing?' and put my arm around Dale," said Hunt.

"He was arguing with Mr Ahmed, calling him a grooming P***, a P*** b****** and things like that.

"He was scaring the life out of him. So I lashed out at Dale, telling him to f****** get off.

"I'd just had enough of him that evening, I'd had enough of him causing trouble for that old man.

"We were throwing punches at each other and Mr Ahmed went on to the floor."

Mr Pitter asked how Mr Ahmed had ended up on the floor.

Hunt replied: "Dale pushed him down to the floor. Then he went to the side of him and kicked him in the head like it was a football.

"I was screaming at the top of my voice, like a little girl. Then Dale jumped on his head with both feet.

"I was saying: 'Give over Dale, leave him alone.'

"I was throwing blows at him and he was throwing blows at me and in the end he just switched off.

"I was shocked. I was sickened by what I had just seen. It messed my head up."

Hunt claims he does not know how his DNA had ended up on Mr Ahmed's broken dentures, but suspected he may have accidentally struck him when throwing punches at Jones.

He told jurors that he did not call police or an ambulance out of fear that he would be implicated and fear that Jones would harm his family.

Yesterday, Jones declined to give evidence in his own defence, despite a warning that the decision may influence the jury against him.

Both men deny murder. The trial continues.