The only eyewitness in the Aaron Glen Easton murder trial said his killer was shorter than the victim.

The six woman, six man, jury heard that Mr. Easton was only five-foot-four-inches tall.

Archibald, 38, formerly of Sandys, has denied murdering 19-year-old Mr. Easton on May 4, 1985.

The prosecution alleges that Archibald killed Mr. Easton in one of the cruellest and most vicious murders to ever occur on the Island.

Last week the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kulandra Ratneser, told the jury that the case was based on circumstantial and DNA evidence, as there were no eyewitnesses who could identify the murderer.

Mr. Easton's body was found in a pool of blood in the driveway of Talbot Apartments, off Laffan Street in Pembroke, 18 years ago.

The witness, Robert Roy Herd, was living in apartment five, which was next door to the victim and Troy Rawlins, who lived in apartment six.

Mr. Herd said on the night of May 3, he had come home between 9.30 to 9.45 p.m., began preparing a meal, turned on the television and began watching Hill Street Blues.

He said he later turned off the lights and sat down to eat and watched the beginning of Dallas, a weekly soap opera, before falling off to sleep.

Mr. Herd said he was awoken by shouting and screaming from the next door apartment at about 11.40 p.m.

"I was sleeping and I was awoken by someone screaming and shouting," said Mr. Herd, as he recounted the tale.

"A voice was saying `give it to me' and `give me something'.

"I heard commotion, which ran from one side of the apartment to the other.

"This went on for a few minutes and then I heard them outside.

"I went to my kitchen window and looked outside where I saw two men.

"The shorter man was hitting the taller man with a helmet and the taller man would scream, but the taller man did not hit the shorter man back.

"The shorter man seemed to be hitting the man with his hand with his elbow bent, but it didn't look as though he was punching him.

"I couldn't see what he had in his hand and I tried to see a face, but I couldn't because of the shadows."

Mr. Easton had 49 stab wounds and had his head crushed by a concrete block.

"I watched the taller man (now known to be Mr. Easton) fall to the ground - I thought why don't you just get up and run away," said Mr. Herd.

The witness said he went quietly back to his bed where he heard the man outside in the driveway whimpering.

"The other man went back to the apartment and it sounded like he was looking for something," said Mr. Herd.

"I could hear drawers opening and closing. I thought about calling the Police, but I was afraid that they would hear me because of where my telephone was.

"A few minutes later when I was in bed I heard a sound like whoosh.

"It sounded like a heavy item being dropped or thrown.

"Everything went silent after that - to sleep was impossible.

"I didn't see where the person went because I was still in my bed."

Mr. Herd said he heard a neighbour call out his name a while later, and they telephoned the Police, but the witness denied seeing anything until five months later.

Both Mr. Ratneser and lawyer Larry Mussenden questioned Mr. Herd on why he did not tell the Police what he had seen until October 16, 1985.

Mr. Herd replied: "I didn't say anything to anyone because I was afraid that by saying something I would put my safety in jeopardy.

"My conscience was getting to me and I went to the Police."

Mr. Herd described the killer as being a stout, bowlegged short man.

Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill is being assisted by lawyer Mr. Mussenden.

Representing the Crown is the DPP Mr. Ratneser, who is being assisted by Crown counsel Juan Wolffe and Cindy Clarke.

The trial continues today before Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade-Miller.