Father and son go on trial charged with the murder of Paul Retallick

A Yeovil-born man who had reconciled with his former girlfriend in secret was beaten to death by her brother when he discovered the relationship, a court heard today.

Lee Michael McGinty, 25, of Peony Road, Langport, attacked Paul Retallick, 35, when he found him hiding in a wardrobe in his sister Heidi McGinty's house on Sunday, September 16, last year, Bristol Crown Court was told.

Peter Coombe, prosecuting, said Lee's father Michael Frank McGinty, 55, also of Peony Road, then restrained Mr Retallick while his son continued to punch, kick and stamp on him in the first floor bedroom.

Mr Retallick, formerly of Barwick, near Yeovil, was found dead on the Old Kelways Estate, in Langport, shortly after 9pm. A post-mortem revealed he had died of head injuries.

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Mr Retallick and the mother of one of his children, Heidi McGinty, had been "surreptitiously" seeing each other again prior to his death, the court heard.

Mr Coombe added: "I say surreptitiously because both of them were concerned about how Heidi McGinty's family would react if they were aware he was back on the Sunday. Heidi tried to conceal the relationship."

Mr Coombe said the couple's four-year relationship was "often turbulent" and "marred by episodes of violence", resulting in a restraining order against Mr Retallick on one occasion.

He added: "It's common ground between all sides that the defendants and Paul Retallick were on very bad terms by the time of his death."

Mr Retallick had previously attacked Michael McGinty who later sent the victim threatening text messages, the court heard.

Both defendants deny murder.

The trial continues and is expected to take up to three weeks.

See this week's Western Gazette for the full report.