In his opening address this morning, Crown prosecutor John Ransom told jurors Andrew John Semmens, 27, of Perth, Nathan Patrick Mayne, 24, of Newnham, and Adam Jacob Shepherd, 21, of St Leonards, shared a common purpose in murdering 31-year-old Nathan John Woolley outside his Warring Street on December 21.

Mr Ransom revealed Mr Woolley, a stranger to the three men, died from severe head injuries caused by a blow to the head with a wooden axe handle.

``The State says the blow was delivered by one man - probably Mr Semmens - acting in concert with the two others,'' he said.

He said Mr Semmens was driving along Warring Street about 10.30pm with three male passengers which included his two co-accused.

His said the alleged violence against another man, then Mr Woolley, occurred after that vehicle struck a wheelie bin in the street.

Mr Semmens' lawyer, Greg Richardson, did not elect to make an opening address.

Mr Mayne's lawyer, Adrian Hall, told the court his client was guilty of assaulting the complainant Michael Colin Brooks - a neighbour of Mr Woolley's - but was in no way responsible for the death of Mr Woolley.

``He was present but at no stage touched what's said to be the murder weapon, nor did he encourage Mr Woolley be struck - and he denies he ever held Mr Woolley while he was struck,'' he said.

Mr Shepherd's lawyer, Geoff Stephenson, indicated to the jury his client's defence would be similar to that of Mr Mayne's.

``He wasn't even out of the car when the fatal blow that tragically killed Mr Woolley (was inflicted),'' he said.

Jurors are being shown a large number of photographs, expected to take the rest of today and half of tomorrow.

They will then be taken to the scene of the alleged murder.

The trial, before Chief Justice Ewan Crawford, is expected to take three to four weeks.