A MAN accused of murder made a “pathetic, amateurish and incompetent attempt to hide his body”, a court heard.

Colin Gale is accused of murdering bomb disposal expert Mark Manning in Worthing.

His defence barrister Michael Bromley-Martin yesterday told a jury: “Mark Manning died on Saturday April 19, 2014, in the early afternoon.

“He died from injuries to his face and skull. He died at P&B motors in Western Road, Worthing.

“Colin Gale was responsible for his death. Colin Gale disposed of his body on Sunday, April 20.

“Colin Gale lied to others and the police.

“The issue in this case is, was the killing of Mark Manning executed in self-defence?

“It has been suggested to you there was a motive of money. There was no motive of money.

“Colin Gale relied on Mark Manning for a substantial part of his income. It was financially disastrous for Mark Manning to be dead.

“What occurred here was very far from being a planned motivated cold-blooded murder.

“Rather everything about it gives the impression of something happening spontaneously, unexpectedly and wholly unplanned, in that he has admitted to disposing of the body in what can only be described as a pathetic, amateurish and incompetent way.”

Mr Manning worked for the Mines Advisory Group, a charity which removes landmines and other hazards in some of the world’s poorest countries.

The 54-year-old from Lancing was missing for two years before his body was found near Slaugham in Mid Sussex.

The jury at Lewes Crown Court has been told that Gale beat Mr Manning to death in a row over an unpaid debt.

Gale and Stewart Robertson, 50, of St Aubyns Road, Portslade, are accused of taking his body and hiding it in a ditch beside the secluded Hampshire Hill near Slaugham.

Gale then told police and Mr Manning’s family that he had taken his friend of more than five years to Worthing Station.

Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, told the jury the injuries found on Mr Manning’s body “included several fractures, consistent with a number of blows around the head.

Severe force had been employed to cause those fractures.

He said: “These are the actions of someone setting out to cause serious harm.”

On Tuesday the jury was told Gale had told his former wife Chloe Birchley “I finished him off”.

When Ms Birchley suggested his actions could have been considered self defence Gale apparently told her: “No, not really. He was alive.”

Gale, of Offington Lane Worthing, denies murder.

Stewart Robertson denies preventing the lawful burial of Mr Manning’s body.

The trial continues.