A man from Erdington has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his neighbour, whose body he concealed inside a sleeping bag.
A Brutal Attack in Shared Accommodation
Diogo Bettencourt, 37, was convicted of murdering Anthony Sharma, 43, at the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) they shared in Erdington. The violent incident occurred in November 2023.
The court heard how Bettencourt subjected Mr. Sharma to a sustained and vicious assault. The attack involved beating, stabbing, and ultimately strangling the victim to death.
Concealment and Attempted Fraud
Following the killing, Bettencourt took immediate steps to hide his crime. He placed Mr. Sharma's body inside a sleeping bag in the victim's room.
He then attempted to profit from his actions by trying to use the deceased's bank card. Bettencourt made eight attempts to use the card, including trying to withdraw cash after the victim's benefits were paid into the account.
Discovery and Arrest
The attempted cover-up unravelled when the property's landlady entered Mr. Sharma's room. She spotted the victim's feet protruding from beneath the sleeping bag.
Acting calmly, she left the room without alerting Bettencourt to her discovery, which allowed her to contact West Midlands Police safely and initiate the investigation.
Sentencing and Mental Health Mitigation
At Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Paul Farrer KC sentenced Bettencourt to life imprisonment. He must serve a minimum term of 11 years and 237 days before he can be considered for parole.
The judge acknowledged significant mitigation due to Bettencourt's diagnosed mental health conditions. The court heard the killer, who is originally from Canada, suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia.
Judge Farrer concluded these conditions "impaired significantly" Bettencourt's ability to make rational decisions and control his actions at the time of the offence.
Ongoing Treatment in Custody
The court was informed that Bettencourt's mental health has deteriorated since his incarceration. His condition required a transfer to the Tamarind Centre, a secure mental health hospital.
The judge confirmed the defendant remains "very unwell" and will require long-term psychiatric treatment while serving his sentence.
