Qld addict possibly suffocated trial hears

A Gold Coast drug addict could have suffocated because his face had collapsed from a severe bashing, a court has heard.

Darren John Britza, 31, was allegedly attacked at an industrial shed in Southport in March 2001 and his tarpaulin-wrapped body driven away in a white Holden Commodore.

His skeletal remains were found in March 2008 after two fishermen saw a pair of boots sticking out of the dirt underneath Canungra Creek Bridge, about 35km west of Southport.

Shane Anthony Eric Hansen and Dean Mark Wills are on trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court and have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Britza.

Pathologist Beng Beng Ong told the court on Wednesday that Mr Britza's nose and upper jaw had collapsed from a severe force that would have obstructed his airways.

Dr Ong said it was likely Mr Britza's injuries would have caused him to become unconscious either from a concussion or because he could not breathe.

The court heard the exact cause of Mr Britza's death could not be determined because only his skeleton remained when he was found.

Dr Ong said there was no damage to the skeleton to indicate that a knife or a gun had been used on the body.

A man who witnessed the beating, but could not identify the two culprits, told the court Mr Britza was coughing and spluttering after his face was smashed in.

The man said Mr Britza left a foot-wide trail of blood on the floor as he was dragged to a blue tarpaulin, wrapped up and driven away in a white Commodore.

The court heard on Tuesday that a white Holden Commodore that belonged to Hansen was found on fire at Clagiraba, about 12km northeast of the Canungra, the day after Mr Britza disappeared.

The trial continues.