A friend of a former public schoolboy murdered in a drugs row searched his flat for anything incriminating at the request of the victim's mother, a court heard yesterday (Thursday).

Matthew Demko, 25, suffered horrific head injuries after being repeatedly beaten with a weightlifter's barbell in April last year.

It is alleged Michael Jordan, also 25, battered him around the head and strangled him with wire in the garage of his home in Links Road, Ashtead.

The victim, who was educated at Pangbourne College in Reading, had arrived at the house to collect cash owed for the supply of cocaine and cannabis, the Old Bailey has heard.

Mr Demko was from a 'respectable middle-class' family but was supplying friends with recreational drugs for weekend partying, it is said.

His friend Martin Goody said he retrieved anything that 'put Matthew in a bad light' from his home on the morning after his death.

Mr Goody, who had known the victim for 12 years, had been asked to carry out the favour my his friend's mum Lorraine.

He had planned to meet Mr Demko on the night of his death in a local pub, but was told he had been involved in an accident.

The following morning Mrs Demko called and broke the news of the killing.

Mr Goody told the court: "She asked me to go to Matt's house and make sure there was nothing there that shouldn't be there.

"To make sure there was nothing incriminating, anything...a stock pile of drugs...to make sure there was nothing there that would put Matthew in a bad light."

Jordan denies murder. The trial continues.