Neighbours of alleged murder victim Guy Thomas yesterday told a jury how he came to their home bleeding and pleading for help.

Daniel Conway and Heidi Bowen, who lived next door to Mr Thomas had heard noises from his flat in Pound Way, Cowley, from 2pm on Thursday, February 9, Oxford Crown Court heard.

Mr Thomas was drinking with Sara Kingston, 33, of Foresters Tower, Wood Farm, and Peter Rous, 32, of Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys.

Rous and Kingston have denied murdering Mr Thomas, who was found dead in his flat the next day.

The jury has been told Mr Thomas bled to death and the prosecution allege Kingston and Rous had beaten him.

The jury was yesterday told how Mr Thomas knocked on Mr Conway's door at 8pm on the Thursday.

He said: "Guy was sitting on our sofa. He had three or four cuts to the head.

"There was a lot of blood on our couch and it was also on the floor."

One of Mr Conway's flatmates took Mr Thomas home and called an ambulance.

Miss Bowen said: "Guy came to our flat at 8pm. He said: 'Help me, help me'."

She said police turned up at about 9pm but said the ambulance was not coming because Mr Thomas had refused to go to hospital earlier that evening.

The jury were also told about the extent of Mr Thomas's drink problem from the man who found Mr Thomas's body in his bloodstained flat.

Drinking companion Stephen Hobbs said Mr Thomas drank four litres of strong cider every day.

He said there would often be "play-fighting" between Mr Thomas and Mr Rous when they were drunk.

The court has been told that Mr Thomas was homosexual and was attracted to Mr Rous, but the feeling was not reciprocated.

Mr Hobbs added: "Peter said: 'Don't be stupid'. He took it quite well considering he is heterosexual."

The trial continues.