Ned Terry Hutchinson and Terrence Bradley Wilson stand trial for the murder of Oliver Todd

A group of meth addicts allegedly bashed a man 11 times in the head, tied a sack around it and then choked him to death, a trial has heard.

A group of “drug-addled” Murray Bridge addicts allegedly beat and choked a fellow meth user to death, wrapped his head in a hessian sack and secured it with ratchet straps, a court has heard.

Ned Terry Hutchinson and Terrence Bradley Wilson are accused of murdering Oliver Todd on December 11, 2019.

Kos Lesses, prosecuting, told Justice Kevin Nicholson, who is hearing the trial in the absence of a jury, that Mr Todd had been killed in a “nasty and deliberate attack”.

The court heard that a third man – David James Russell – had pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Todd during a directions hearing earlier this year.

Mr Lesses said that Mr Todd had suffered 11 blows to the head with either a number of weapons or a multi-edged weapon.

A hammer found at the scene was a possible murder weapon.

Mr Lesses said a hessian sack had been placed over Mr Todd’s head, possibly to stop the bleeding, and secured there with two red ratchet straps.

A cloth belt was placed around Mr Todd’s neck and pulled tight. The neck injuries along with the head wounds were declared his cause of death.

A quilt was used to soak up some of the blood from the attack.

Mr Todd’s body was found 20km away from the scene of his murder, in a paddock at Jervois.

The scene in December 2019, after the body of Oliver Todd was found – police searched for evidence at Tennyson Tce, Murray Bridge where the dead man had lived. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Mr Lesses said in his opening that the alleged motive for the attack was a belief by Mr Wilson that Mr Todd had acted inappropriately towards his niece.

The court heard that Mr Todd had been kicked out of the house of Mr Wilson’s sister only a few months before, having enraged members of the family by his behaviour.

He also said that Mr Wilson allegedly harboured a belief that Mr Todd was flirting with his girlfriend.

Oliver Todd, murder victim.

The red ute which police believe was used to transport the wrapped-up body of the murdered man. Picture: SAPOL

Mr Lesses said both the victim, his housemate and the three men charged with Mr Todd’s murder were all drug addicts.

“These may not sound like motivations for a murder, but in the minds of a group of drug-addled brains it may have been enough,” he said.

The court heard that Mr Wilson had been released on home detention bail following his arrest and was recorded on a listening device saying he had killed someone.

Craig Caldicott, for Mr Wilson, said he would be arguing the audio from the listening device was not clear and it was not clear his client said what the prosecution alleged.

Judge Nicholson viewed two video walk-throughs of the Mr Todd’s house showing blood on the floor in the kitchen and drag marks leading to the back door.

The trial continues.