MURDER accused Louis Borzoni will offer no evidence in his defence, a court heard today.

The 50-year-old is, with Paul Gerlach, 51, accused of killing Rico Dardis out at sea on May 27 last year.

Addressing Winchester Crown Court, Borzoni's defence counsel said he would offer no evidence, and he understood the jury were entitled to draw their own inferences from this.

The body of Mr Dardis, 30, of Hawkwood Mews, Boscombe, was later discovered near groynes at Seaway Avenue, Friar’s Cliff, Christchurch.

His cause of death was recorded by a coroner as drowning, and he also suffered injuries caused by a boat propeller.

Borzoni, of Hamilton Road, Boscombe, and Gerlach, of no fixed abode, deny murder.

The trial continues.