At least 28 separate injuries were inflicted in the attack that killed Qadir Ahmed, a jury was told.

Forensic pathologist Professor Christopher Milroy told Leeds Crown Court that at least three weapons - a knife, an axe or similar and a cylindrical object - were used in the Keighley attack on February 13 last year.

After carrying out a post-mortem examination he concluded that the 24-year-old was killed by an axe blow to the back of the head that fractured his skull.

"There is evidence that this was a rapid and ferocious attack which led quickly to this person's death," said Prof Milroy.

Earlier, the court was told how Mr Ahmed tried to take refuge in a friend's car as he was chased by an armed masked gang.

Wajid Rashid told Leeds Crown Court that he had been playing football with Mr Ahmed at Keighley Leisure Centre before the attack.

Mr Rashid said when the car he was in left the leisure centre in Victoria Park and turned left on to Bradford Road, he saw Mr Ahmed's car had been rammed by another vehicle.

"There were people chasing Qadir and I saw him jump over the railings. There were eight or ten chasing him. They had balaclavas on," he said.

"By the time we got closer, they were just approaching the roundabout. Somebody had a baseball bat or bat of some sort in their hand.

"Qadir ran towards us but he noticed it was a two door car and ran away. I think he might have jumped in if it had been a four door car," he said.

Zulfiqar Asif, 23, of Bradford Road; Amjad Ali Azam, 21, of Surrey Street; Perveez Ashraf, 26, of Victoria Park, View; Zahir Bashir, 27 of Emley Street; Mohammed Rafiq, 21, of Chatsworth Street; and Atif Younis, 22, of Buxton Street, all Keighley; and Mohammed Iqbal, 24, of Salt Street, Manningham, Bradford; all deny conspiring to murder Mr Ahmed of Gordon Street, Keighley.

The trial continues.