An eyewitness to a shocking late-night fatal assault described trying to use his body as a shield in a heroic act against the laughing attackers.
Dad-of-two Dr Gary Jenkins was "beaten, robbed, tortured and left for dead" in a shocking attack that prosecutors allege was a killing motivated by "greed, homophobia, and a straightforward liking for violence".
Jason Edwards, living in Cardiff but originally from Liverpool, is one of three people who denies murdering Dr Jenkins in Cardiff's Bute Park last year.
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Edwards, 25 and Lee William Strickland, 36, both from Cardiff, and a 17-year-old girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, are on trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
Dr Jenkins suffered devastating injuries when he was attacked in the early hours of July 20.
The 54-year-old died as a result of his injuries at the University Hospital of Wales on August 5.
Prosecutor Dafydd Enoch, opening the case on Tuesday, said the killing was motivated by "greed, homophobia, and a straightforward liking for violence".
He said the brutal beating lasted almost 15 minutes and was "torture – pure and simple".
He told the jury: “The man at the centre of this case encountered the worst traits of humankind and despite the best efforts of one person he could not find the protection.”
Today jurors were shown a police interview with witness Louis Williams who heroically tried to step in during the assault.
Mr Williams said he was walking in the park when he heard sounds of a fight.
In the video of the interview, Mr Williams told officers: “I could hear noises. I could hear shouting. It sounded aggressive, it didn't sound nice… sounded like there was a fight or altercation.
“I could see a male on the floor. Two males were kicking him. A female was also shouting and kicking.”
The witness says he shouted “Stop! Stop!” but they didn't stop.
“I wanted to fight but I was scared, really. They were kicking him to the body… They were just shouting and laughing and swearing.”
Mr Williams said he was then attacked by the people and started taking “blows to my head”.
He told police how he saw the victim of the attack lying on his back on the floor with three people punching and kicking him and said the female attacker was trying to pull his shoulder bag off him.
He said the victim was not saying anything but was moaning and making a “distressed sound”.
Mr Williams said he then tried to put himself between the man and the attackers to act as a “barrier” but the trio began punching him and “swearing and laughing” at him.
The officer asked him what tone of voice they were using and he replied: “Bullying. Like they were having fun, like they had a right to do it. Like they think it’s funny.”
Mr Williams ran out of Bute Park during the attack and headed for the Principality Stadium in the hope of getting help.
He said when he returned to the park the police were already there and he saw an officer trying to resuscitate a man on the floor. He said the whole incident “felt surreal” and he wished he had stayed at the scene “to fight more” rather than going for help.
Going back to the assault he said: “It didn’t seem real. They were definitely high, I think. They were enjoying it.”
Mr Williams later gave live evidence where he said all three were involved in the assault - but the males had taken the lead due to greater "physicality."
The court was played CCTV footage from the Summerhouse Café in Bute Park on Wednesday, which captured the audio of the incident at 12.57am.
In the clip a man's voice was heard to repeatedly say: "Leave me alone" and for his assailants to "get off me".
A female voice demanded: "Money...now" but she was told by the man he did not have any money. The man also repeatedly begs: "Stop it, stop it."
At one stage a female voice said: "Get down, get down" before a male voice added: "All over again."
Later in the clip a man twice says: "Stamp his head"
Towards the end of the clip a female voice is heard to say: "Yeah I needed that."
Dr Jenkins was born and bred in Cardiff but later moved to London and met his wife at medical school and went on to have two daughters.
Mr Enoch told the court in his opening address on Tuesday: "He remained devoted to those two daughters up to the time of his death. He became estranged from his wife and moved back to Cardiff six years ago.
“Dr Jenkins was bisexual and when he moved back to Cardiff this particular side of his character came to the fore. He was open about it and colleagues were well aware of his bisexuality.
“Dr Jenkins was in the habit of attending Bute Park in Cardiff at night looking for sexual contact with like-minded men and would drink heavily as well.
"He was thought of as fit and healthy and was proud of his appearance. He had no financial difficulties."
Mr Enoch told the court the three defendants went to Bute Park "to target somebody for robbery and violence", adding: "They knew what went on in that park at that time of night and the vulnerable nature of people frequenting that part of Cardiff."
Mr Enoch said the attack "lasted for nearly 15 minutes" and those responsible were "indulging in sport". He told the jury: "It was torture – pure and simple."
The case, which is expected to last four weeks and is being heard in front of Judge Daniel Williams, continues.
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