IPSWICH: A man accused of murdering an Ipswich woman said he witnessed her being assaulted and pleading for her attackers to stop.

Interview transcripts between John Grimwood and police officers were read to a jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

Grimwood, 28, of Canham Street, along with Paul Clarke, 41, and a 15-year-old girl who can not be named, all deny murdering Rosalyn Hunt at Clarke’s flat in Mountbatten Court, Ipswich, in August last year.

The court heard that Grimwood had visited the flat and seen Clarke and a woman, who can not be named for legal reasons, kick and punch Mrs Hunt while she sobbed and pleaded with them to stop.

Grimwood’s interview statement read: “Rose (Mrs Hunt) had her back up against the wall. Clarkey (Paul Clarke) was kicking her with his foot. He kicked her in the head.

“The woman was slapping and kicking her in the chest. They took it in turns to do this – I thought ‘I’m gone’.

“Rose was punched quite a few times, maybe ten times each by Clarkey and the woman.

“She was sobbing and she said ‘please leave us alone, stop it, I haven’t done anything’.”

The court had previously heard how a 17-year-old witness had been told that Clarke and the 15-year-old girl were holding Mrs Hunt hostage because she had hit Clarke’s dog.

Clarke and the 15-year-old also deny murdering Des Thorpe, 43, whose body was found in a flat in Limerick Close on August 10 last year.

It has been alleged that Mr Thorpe was killed because he threatened to tell police what had happened to Mrs Hunt.

The trial continues.