A man accused of beating a window cleaner to death blamed it on his girlfriend.

John Beckley, 42, denies murder after the body of Roy Helm was found with 20 rib fractures and a damaged liver at a flat in St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, in August last year.

Oxford Crown Court yesterday heard Beckley blamed the fatal injuries on Lynn Cook.

Miss Cook - a former partner of Mr Helm - had already told the trial she witnessed Beckley headbutt and punch Mr Helm five times because he had called her a "slag".

Julian Baughan, defending Beckley, who the court records show lived at Kidlington Road, Islip, said the blows which Miss Cook described would not have caused the fatal injuries. He added: "If it wasn't John Beckley who did this, it must have been you."

Miss Cook denied beating Mr Helm. Mr Baughan said: "You once threatened to break all the ribs in his body and that is what you did on this occasion.

"You realised afterwards you could blame John Beckley and literally get away with murder."

He said Beckley headbutted and slapped Mr Helm to stop him arguing with Miss Cook.

He said: "That is the only violence by John Beckley that night. You kicked Roy Helm in the groin, put him in a headlock, kicked him in the face and most significantly you repeatedly stamped on his upper body."

Miss Cook denied this.

Mr Baughan also claimed that Miss Cook swapped a pair of shoes she used to stamp on Mr Helm for a pair of flip-flops. She said this was not the case.

No charges were brought against Miss Cook.

Mr Helm's partner Alison Campbell told the jury the day after the attack Mr Helm looked "lifeless and a bit waxy".

The trial continues.