A man was found dead in Birmingham after his neighbor allegedly killed him and used his credit card to withdraw cash. The victim, Anthony Sharma, 43, was discovered at his residence, with Diogo Bettencourt, 35, also residing at the same location, arrested by West Midlands Police.
Before the authorities arrived, Bettencourt reportedly tried to prevent his landlady from entering his room. Later, it was revealed that Mr. Sharma was last seen alive with Bettencourt at a local establishment before the tragic incident occurred.
Following the murder, Bettencourt allegedly used the victim’s bank card multiple times, withdrawing funds shortly after a benefits payment was made into the account. He even withdrew more money to settle arrears with the landlady, deceiving her by claiming Mr. Sharma was away visiting family in Scotland.
A post-mortem examination determined that Mr. Sharma died from neck pressure, sharp force injuries, and head trauma. Bettencourt was taken into custody and, during questioning, chose to remain silent about the events.
During the trial, it was revealed that Bettencourt had a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia. The jury swiftly convicted him of murder. He is currently receiving treatment at the Tamarind Centre in Birmingham, with sentencing postponed to December 15 to ensure he continues to receive necessary care.
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