A man who brutally murdered his neighbour in a shared house in Erdington has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Diogo Bettencourt, 37, killed Anthony Sharma at their HMO on Doidge Road in November 2023 before hiding the victim's body in a sleeping bag.
A Fatal Attack in Shared Accommodation
The court heard that Bettencourt subjected 43-year-old Anthony Sharma to a sustained and violent assault on the night of 8 November 2023. The attack, which occurred between 10.30pm and 2.30am, involved beating, stabbing, and strangulation, resulting in more than 60 separate injuries.
Bettencourt and Mr Sharma had been seen together earlier that evening at the Booze & Beverages off-licence on Slade Road. After returning to the HMO, Bettencourt launched the fatal assault. Judge Paul Farrer KC stated the nature and duration of the violence showed a clear intent to kill.
Following the murder, Bettencourt concealed Mr Sharma's body in a sleeping bag inside his room. He then proceeded to use the victim's bank card on eight separate occasions, withdrawing cash after Mr Sharma's benefits payment had cleared.
Undiagnosed Mental Illness and Arrest
The horrifying crime was uncovered on 10 November by the property's landlady, Musarat Bi. Despite Bettencourt's attempts to deter her, claiming Mr Sharma had gone to Scotland, Ms Bi entered the room and saw the victim's feet protruding from the sleeping bag. She alerted the police, leading to Bettencourt's arrest.
During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, psychiatric experts confirmed Bettencourt was suffering from schizophrenia and psychosis at the time of the killing, conditions which were previously undiagnosed. Judge Farrer accepted that these illnesses severely impaired his judgement and self-control.
"I conclude that at the time you attacked Mr Sharma, your ability to exercise appropriate judgement, self-control, and make rational choices was impaired significantly," the judge said. He noted Bettencourt had not contributed to his illness by refusing treatment, as he had no insight into his condition.
Life Sentence and Ongoing Treatment
On Monday, 15 December 2025, Diogo Bettencourt was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 11 years and 237 days. The judge emphasised that while his mental health provided substantial mitigation, it did not absolve him of responsibility for the murder.
Since his incarceration, Bettencourt's mental health has deteriorated further. He was transferred to the Tamarind Centre mental hospital in Birmingham and has been diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. He is now on a last-resort medication called clozapine.
Psychiatrists warned the court that Bettencourt remains very unwell and, if his symptoms worsen, would pose a high risk to others. His defence barrister, Lisa Wilding KC, stated, "He is now more unwell and is going to remain unwell for the remainder of his life."
The victim, Anthony Sharma, was remembered by his family as a generous, warm-hearted man who would help anybody. His partner of seven years said she was left 'devastated and heartbroken', while his brother said his 'whole world has broken down'.
