THE neighbour of a man on trial for murdering a rough sleeper claims the accused was visited by a co-defendant several times in the weeks before the tragedy.

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.

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

The trio were arrested in Hartley’s flat in New Kiln Road, Colchester, on the same day Mr Dines was found.

When she gave evidence at Ipswich Crown Court, Kennedy claimed she had only met her co-defendants the same day Mr Dines died and had never visited Hartley’s flat before they went back there.

READ MORE: Woman accused of rough sleeper killing 'had only met co-defendants that day'

But Megan Thomas – who lives directly below Hartley – had been keeping a noise log because of disruptive behaviour which had been coming from his flat.

She told the court she saw the group being arrested and that she thought Kennedy had been there on a number of occasions between March 15 and their arrest on April 23.

She said: “I had seen her standing on the stairs next to Mark Hartley while they were in conversation with my neighbour.”

“I saw her from the shoulder down and I am confident it was the same person.

“I also saw her before leaving the block of flats walking away through my kitchen window.”

Miss Thomas said she had also heard the woman’s voice several times, and believed it was the same person she had heard on the day of the arrests.

She said: “It had a similar intonation.

“The laughter was pretty much identical to what I had previously heard.”

Graham Parkins QC, representing Kennedy, suggested Miss Thomas was mistaken having only previously seen her from behind and when her face was obscured.

He also asked her to explain why there was discrepancies between her handwritten log sent back to Colchester Council and a typed version she had kept for herself.

She said: “I didn’t think I would be here giving evidence.”

Richard Sutton QC, suggested the noise of the woman may have been from a television but Miss Thomas rejected the theory.

Miss Thomas came forward to the police last week after reading media coverage of the case.

She said on the night of the arrests an officer told her she should give a statement during their door to door enquiries but she was never approached.

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

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

The trial continues.