A man died outside a late-night Bradford drinking club after being beaten by two attackers, a Court heard today.

David Leach was kicked around 20 times as he lay in an alleyway near the Discovery Bay club in Manningham Lane, the jury was told.

The court heard the incident was sparked when one of the alleged attackers began chatting up Mr Leach's girlfriend, making him lose his temper and hitting her.

The 33-year-old from Siddal, Halifax, who had suffered a heart attack the day before, sustained facial fractures and choked on his own blood.

At Newcastle Crown Court today, Khalid Mahmood Khan, 25, from Bradford, and Michael George, 33, from Leeds, both denied murdering Mr Leach on March 22 last year.

The court was told both the alleged attackers and the victim had been drinking in the Planet Venus club in Bradford before moving on to Discovery Bay. Simon Bourne-Arton QC, prosecuting, said the incident was sparked when George began chatting up Mr Leach's girlfriend, Lisa Johnson.

He said the couple had been living together for some time, although they had a stormy relationship.

Mr Leach had been angry because he felt Lisa was flirting with George and took her outside were he struck her, causing a cut to her cheek.

Mr Bourne-Arton said she later went outside with George "for comfort" before all the parties moved on to Discovery Bay, also known as 'Bankies'.

"Michael George decided to teach Mr Leach a lesson for striking Lisa Johnson," said Mr Bourne-Arton.

He said that in an alleyway outside the club, George led an attack on Mr Leach and Khan assisted him.

"There is no doubt Mr Leach had been the victim of a sustained attack, being kicked in the region of 20 times. He suffered facial fractures and loss of blood, causing him to inhale blood and thus for him to die."

Mr Bourne-Arton said that Mr Leach had been in poor health and had suffered a heart attack the day before.

"Perhaps unwisely he had discharged himself from hospital," he added.

But Mr Bourne-Arton said a pathologist had concluded that Mr Leach would not have died if he had not been attacked.

The trial continues.

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