A MAN told a jury he "saw no evil" when two homeless men were attacked, leaving one dead.

Paul Hamlet said he walked away before the alleged assault on Matthew Heading and Joe Burton began.

Hamlet, 32, said he tried to pull Adam Todd away as others were talking to "two tramps" in Grand Parade, Brighton.

Hamlet told a jury at Hove Crown Court he walked off when Todd ignored him and did not remember hearing or seeing anything happen.

Warwick Tatford, prosecuting, accused him of being "one of the three monkeys" who heard no evil, saw no evil and spoke no evil.

Hamlet said he saw no evil.

Mr Heading, 41, died two days after he was allegedly stamped on and kicked outside Glenwood Hostel, Grand Parade.

He died from a ruptured spleen two days after the attack on June 21 last year.

It is alleged four men either took part in the attack or encouraged the others to do so.

Hamlet, of Falcon Court, Whitehawk, Brighton, Todd, 26, of Ropetackle Walk, Shoreham, Oliver McNulty, 18, of New England Street, Brighton, and Joe Budgen, 19, of Ann Street, Brighton, all deny murder.

They also deny causing actual bodily harm to Mr Burton.

The trial continues.