The trial of three reserve soldiers charged with second-degree murder in the death of a homeless man opened Monday in Toronto.  

Brian Deganis, Jeffery Hall and Mountaz Ibrahim are accused of beating 59-year-old Paul Croutch to death in August 2005.

It's alleged the attack happened as Croutch was sleeping on a park bench near Sherbourne and Shuter streets.

In court, Crown prosecutors said one of the accused was overheard saying he hated homeless people and wanted to take them on. It was after that the reservists went to the park and allegedly committed the attack.
 
The three men had been at a function at the nearby Moss Park Armoury.

The jury was told that Croutch was punched and kicked so hard that his body landed almost a metre behind the bench where he was sleeping. 
 
The three are also accused of attacking a woman who tried to help Croutch.

The brutality of the killing shocked people in Toronto. It was not only the violence against a vulnerable, homeless man that caught people's attention, but also the fact that three Canadian Forces reservists were accused of the fatal assault.

An autopsy showed Croutch suffered head injuries likely caused by punching, kicking or stomping.
 
A forensic expert is expected to testify Monday afternoon.