Sutton Coldfield: Man jailed for murdering friend in his flat

A man has been jailed after murdering his sick friend and taking photographs of her body in his flat.

Leroy Lawrence, 46, “brutally killed” Craig Moult, 45, and stole his bank card and property from his home in Boldmere Close, Sutton Coldfield, on September 1 last year.

West Midlands Police said Mr Molt had suffered “more than 100 injuries and was left for dead by someone he called a friend”.

Lawrence, of no fixed address, was found guilty of her murder during a four-week trial and was jailed for a minimum of 26 years at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday.

Lawrence and another friend met Mr Molt overnight on August 31, with CCTV showing the friend leaving the following afternoon, before Lawrence left three hours later.

Officers said Mr Molt was then “violently assaulted”.

He was found dead in his flat by his family on September 3.

Lawrence, who handed himself in to police, was taken into custody, where he confessed to an inmate and revealed he had also taken Mr Molt’s bank card but the attempted transaction failed. was done

“He returned to Craig’s home two days after the attack and found Craig dead,” a force spokesman said.

“But instead of ringing the emergency services, he stole more of Craig’s property and left. He also took pictures of his injuries on his mobile phone.”

In a separate incident, Lawrence was also found guilty of a burglary against another victim the day after Mr Molt’s murder, stealing various items including designer goods and jewellery.

Detective Inspector Jim Mahon said Lawrence stole from an “innocent woman” before returning to Mr Moult’s flat to steal her property.

“He is a dangerous man and has shown no remorse for any of his terrible actions,” he said.

“My thoughts are with Craig’s loved ones who have been forced to go through a difficult ordeal.”

Paying tribute, Mr Molt’s family said he was “still greatly missed” and “will continue [missed] Forever and ever.”

He said: “To sit in court and hear what Craig went through in his final moments was heartbreaking to hear as a family.

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