THE jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of five people accused of murdering a man in Farnworth.

Ian Bendall died in hospital on July 13 last year and the trial heard how he suffered a 'punishment beating' over drugs in an area behind Century Mill, off George Street.

Alex Smith also known as Colgan, aged 28, William Coughlan, aged 25 and Kathryn Colgan, aged 24, all of Ramsay Avenue, Farnworth, as well as Ellis Hampson, aged 19 of Oakfield Avenue, Little Hulton and a 16-year-old boy all deny the murder of Mr Bendall.

Yesterday the jury at Manchester Crown Court retired to consider their verdicts at around 11am.

The jury was sent home in the afternoon and will return next week.