Friends 'taunted murder victim saying "smile for the camera" as they filmed themselves beating him to death'
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Two friends filmed themselves beating a man to death in a park while telling him to "smile for the camera" - a court has heard.
Keith Lowe, 22, is accused of murdering 23-year-old Brendan Mason along with pal Joshua Hack, 21, before stripping the victim and dumping him in a pond in Abbey Park, Leicester.
Lowe denies murder and perverting the course of justice.
Hack pleaded guilty to murder at a previous hearing and is awaiting sentencing.
A trial at Leicester Crown Court heard Mr Mason suffered brain damage and two collapsed lungs among the 99 injuries to his head and body during the attack in the early hours of Tuesday, July 5, last year.
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
Prosecuting, Miranda Moore QC, told a jury the pair lured Mr Mason to the park before killing him and cycling away from the scene to a McDonald's to get drinks.
Mr Mason was discovered hours later by two groundsmen working in the park and died later in hospital.
The jury was shown mobile phone footage recovered from Hack's mobile phone allegedly showing the pair taunting their victim as he cries out in pain.
Lowe allegedly said: "Shut your ******* mouth now."
One person says Mr Mason's name, followed by Hack saying: "Here you go. Say smile, smile."
(Photo: SWNS.com)
(Photo: SWNS.com)
One of the assailants says: "Smile for the camera" as the mobile phone is held near Mr Mason's face.
A voice is heard: "****** face shot mate, innit."
Hack: "Shut him up… before I shut him up… I will.
Hack: "Ooh, nice cut on your eye."
Miss Moore said: "This wasn't a one-man operation, it was two people acting together attacking one person.
"They lured Brendan to the park. They had the intention of giving Brendan a beating.
"It was an area where they wouldn't be disturbed – the place should have been locked.
"Our case is it was an attack these two had in their mind before they started it."
Lowe's trial continues.