A MAN accused of beating a friend to death appeared at a neighbour’s front door naked and covered in blood, a trial heard yesterday.

Anthony Trevor Muldoon denies murdering Norman Illingworth, 57, at the victim’s home in Essex Street, Middlesbrough, after the pair spent the day drinking with friends.

During the first day of his trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, the jury heard Mr Muldoon, 26, admit to causing the injuries, but said he was not responsible for his actions because his drink had been spiked with amphetamines.

He has denied murder, and assaulting another man, Andrew Hulse, during the same incident.

Mr Illingworth suffered head injuries and died on his living room floor in the early hours of February 18.

Toby Hedworth QC, prosecuting, said a neighbour was woken at 3.30am by banging and the sound of a man shouting.

He told the court: “He then heard someone banging at his window. It was Mr Muldoon, who was naked except for his socks and had a lot of blood on him. He was repeatedly shouting ‘I think I have killed him’.”

Mr Illingworth had been hit twice in the back of the head, and at least four times in the face.

Mr Hedworth said: “It is more likely that Mr Illingworth was stamped on or a weapon was used, rather than simply punched.”

Furniture had been thrown across the room, a mirror was smashed and blood was found on the walls, rugs and stairs.

Forensic teams found blood on sections of a vacuum cleaner.

Mr Hedworth said: “This suggests it was used to strike across Mr Illingworth when he was already wet with blood.”

Mr Muldoon’s T-shirt, trousers and shoes were found in the house, and his blood-spattered jacket was found in the street outside.

Mr Hedworth said bottles of vodka in the house had been studied for traces of drugs, but none was found.

He said: “This is not the case of a spiked drink. It is a case of a young man having too much to drink while also taking drugs.

“As a result, he lost his temper and self-control and battered Mr Illingworth to death.”

The trial continues.