A DRUNKEN victim died after being viciously punched and kicked to the head in a group attack on the city walls, a court heard.

Prosecutors told a jury at Chester Crown Court that Christopher Garwell, 23, from Connah’s Quay, died of his injuries in hospital six days after suffering a fractured skull and brain haemorrhages.

David Tushingham, 20, of Melbourne Road, Blacon, and Kieran Cunnah, 18, of Durham Road, Blacon, along with two 17-year-old males who cannot be named due to their age, all deny murder.

Michael Chambers QC, prosecuting, said: “There were repeated kicks and punches to the head and he was knocked to the ground.

“It was a vicious joint attack in which each played their part, whether by kicking, whether by punching or whether by encouraging the others.”

Prior to the alleged assault on June 3, Mr Garwell had been in Grosvenor Park with his ‘friend and protector’ Scott Murphy, also from Connah’s Quay, where he had drunk vodka, smoked cannabis and taken six ecstasy tablets on a hot afternoon.

The pair joined a larger group from Blacon, including the four defendants, who were friends of Mr Murphy but did not know Mr Garwell.

After Mr Murphy left, it was said the accused took advantage of Mr Garwell’s intoxicated condition by robbing him of money and drugs in an initial assault at Charlotte Court, which was interrupted.

Tushingham and Cunnah remained with Mr Garwell as he went off along the nearby towpath, past Iceland, up a footpath and wooden steps on to the walls by King Charles’ Tower.

The other two defendants became separated but telephoned Cunnah in order to regroup.

All four were on the walls, with the victim in a drunken state.

Initially, the court heard some of the defendants attempted to help Mr Garwell but turned on him after overhearing him make a call to his cousin, Emma Griffiths.

Mr Chambers said: “They then heard him saying ‘get the boys here, I’ve been banged’.”

Natalie Rigby and another witness who cannot be named, who had earlier been with the group, phoned Cunnah to rejoin them.

“On reaching the defendants, these girls witnessed the joint assault on Christopher Garwell that caused his death,” added Mr Chambers.