A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his terminally ill friend at his home in Sutton Coldfield.
Craig Moult, aged 45, was found dead in his home on Boldmere Close after being violently attacked by his friend, Leroy Lawrence, on 1 September last year. Lawrence, aged 46 and of no fixed address, was found guilty of murder following a four-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Today, he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26 years.
CCTV evidence showed that Lawrence and another friend visited Craig’s home on 31 August. The friend left the following afternoon, leaving Lawrence alone with Craig. During this time, Lawrence launched a vicious attack on Craig, inflicting more than 100 injuries. Lawrence was seen leaving the house three hours later.
A few days after the attack, Lawrence surrendered to police but refused to answer questions during an interview. While in custody, he confessed to an inmate that he had taken Craig’s bank card and attempted a transaction, which failed. Two days after the murder, Lawrence returned to the scene, found Craig deceased, and stole more of his belongings, including taking photographs of his injuries on his phone.
In addition to the murder conviction, Lawrence was also found guilty of theft in an unrelated case. He stole designer goods, jewellery, and a bank card from another victim the day after killing Craig.
Craig’s family, who attended the trial, described the experience as heart-wrenching. They said:
“Craig was our son, brother, and father, and he did not deserve what he was put through. Craig is still very much missed by family and friends every day and will continue to be forever and always.”
Chief Inspector Jim Mahon, who led the investigation, condemned Lawrence’s actions:
“Lawrence brutally killed Craig in his own home, where he should have been safe. He is a dangerous man who has shown no remorse for his horrific actions. My thoughts are with Craig’s loved ones, and I hope they can find some comfort in seeing his killer sentenced today.”
Lawrence’s actions have left a lasting impact on Craig’s family, who continue to mourn his tragic loss.
