Langport murder trial: 'Heidi was hysterical when she saw him motionless'

One of the men accused of a murder in Langport last year left the scene immediately after police arrived, a court heard.

Lee Michael McGinty, 25, returned to his parents’ home, on nearby Peony Road, after beating his sister’s ex-boyfriend to death, Bristol Crown Court was told on Monday.

MURDER ACCUSED: Lee McGinty was said to have left the scene

Peter Coombe, prosecuting, said the defendant went home to grab tobacco before returning to the scene of the alleged attack on Iris Way with a bottle of beer in his hand.

Speaking of the moments after police officers first discovered a lifeless Paul Retallick face down on a bedroom floor, Mr Coombe said: “Heidi became hysterical when she saw Paul Retallick motionless on the floor.

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“At first Lee McGinty appeared very calm.

“It was a little while after that the police realised Lee was missing from the house.

“The policeman heard Michael McGinty asking his daughter why she had put them through this.”

Phone records showed Lee McGinty had sent a text message to his former partner Mary Patterson – and mother of his child – moments after Mr Retallick’s death, the court heard.

At 9.09pm, he allegedly sent a message reading: “Sorry I didn’t text, I just beat up Paul.” Two minutes later, he is said to written: “He won’t wake up Mary, been out for 20 minutes.” Mr Coombe said Lee McGinty also sent a text to his mother at 9.29pm asking if Mr Retallick was breathing before writing to Mary at 10.01pm: “I love all three of you. He’s dead Mary.”

The court was also told that a blood-stained shoes and shirt belonging to Lee McGinty were found in the garden of his Langport home.

Lee McGinty has denied a charge of murder.