A 52-year-old man from Borehamwood murdered a friend who was living with a woman he was 'obsessed' with, a court heard this week.

David Wells, of Thirsk Road, is on trial at St Albans Crown Court for murdering 51-year-old Michael O'Sullivan from Norfolk Gardens on May 17 last year.

The jury heard how Wells shared his home with a woman - a friend who he slept with - but she had recently moved out to live with Mr O'Sullivan.

Prosecuting, Isabel Delamere told the court the woman and O'Sullivan had become good friends but it was not known whether the two had a sexual relationship.

She added: "Wells was distressed at the state of his relationship and the fact she had turned her attentions to O'Sullivan. He was said to be obsessed with her and could not leave her alone."

Wells often visited or telephoned O'Sullivan's house looking for her and O'Sullivan's daughter said she once heard her father comforting Wells, telling him 'there's plenty more pebbles on the beach'.

On May 18 last year, O'Sullivan and the woman went to Wells' house to pick up the rest of her belongings.

Ms Delamere said: "They had both been drinking before they went to Wells' house at about 8pm.

"At some point, they fell asleep there. O'Sullivan woke in the early hours of the morning and had a verbal altercation with Wells, then started punching him in the head and face.

"They decided to leave but when they were outside Wells followed and offered them a lift home. When they arrived back outside O'Sullivan's house, Wells again lost his temper and struck O'Sullivan again. A weapon was not seen in his hand but O'Sullivan was later found to have two holes in his neck which were bleeding."

Ms Delamere said Wells then left while O'Sullivan went into the house and later called an ambulance and the police.

O'Sullivan told police that Wells had kept hitting him 'for no good reason'.

He said: "He hit me at Thirsk Road, gave me a lift home and then hit me again."

O'Sullivan was taken to hospital, but died the next day.

The court heard how he suffered injuries including bruises and cuts to the face and a mysterious puncture mark in the side of his neck.

A post mortem revealed he died from a head injury, which caused bleeding in the brain.

Wells denies murder and an alternative charge of man-slaughter. The trial continues.