Man jailed for murdering friend at his flat

A person has been jailed after murdering his terminally ailing pal and taking pictures of his physique at his flat.

Leroy Lawrence, 46, “brutally killed” Craig Moult, 45, and stole his financial institution card and property at his house on Boldmere Shut, Sutton Coldfield, on 1 September final 12 months.

West Midlands Police stated Mr Moult had “suffered greater than 100 accidents and was left to die by somebody he known as a pal.”

Lawrence, of no mounted handle, was discovered responsible of his homicide throughout a four-week trial and was jailed for no less than 26 years at Birmingham Crown Courtroom on Wednesday.

Lawrence and one other pal had visited Mr Moult in a single day on 31 August, with CCTV displaying the pal leaving the next afternoon, earlier than Lawrence left three hours later.

Mr Moult was “violently attacked” throughout this time, officers stated.

He was discovered lifeless in his flat by his household on 3 September.

Lawrence, who handed himself in to police, was remanded in custody, the place he confessed his crime to an inmate and revealed he had additionally taken Mr Moult’s financial institution card however an tried transaction had failed.

“He returned to Craig’s home two days after the assault and noticed Craig lifeless,” a drive spokesperson stated.

“However as an alternative of ringing emergency providers, he stole extra of Craig’s property and left. He additionally took pictures on his cell phone of his accidents.”

In an separate incident, Lawrence was additionally discovered responsible of 1 depend of theft in opposition to one other sufferer the day after he killed Mr Moult, stealing varied objects together with designer items and jewelry.

Ch Insp Jim Mahon stated Lawrence stole from an “harmless girl” earlier than returning to Mr Moult’s flat to steal his property.

“He’s a harmful man and has proven no regret for any of his horrific actions,” he stated.

“My ideas are with Craig’s family members who’ve been pressured to take a seat via a troublesome trial.”

In a tribute, Mr Moult’s household stated he was “nonetheless very a lot missed” and would “proceed to be [missed] eternally and at all times.”

They stated: “To sit down in courtroom and take heed to what Craig went via in his closing moments has been heartbreaking to listen to as a household.

“Craig was our son, brother and father and he didn’t deserve what he was put via.”