Man killed neighbour and spent his benefits

JURY TOOK LESS THAN TWO HOURS TO REACH MURDER VERDIC

- STAFF REPORTER

was found dead by his landlady

A MAN who Killed his neighbour and spent his benefits money has been found guilty of murder.

Anthony Sharma was discovered dead by the landlady at his HMO in Doidge Road, Erdington, at around 1pm on November 10, 2023.

Mr Sharma, 43, was last seen alive at around 10.20pm on November 8 that year when he and Diogo Bettencourt were together at the Booze & Beverages off-licence on Slade Road. They returned to their HMO and it was believed Bettencourt killed Mr Sharma between 10.30pm and 2.30am the following morning, when he was seen leaving the address alone.

Over the next day or so, he used the victim's bank card multiple times, including withdrawing cash shortly after a DWP benefits payment had cleared.