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Man guilty of killing 89-year-old Man guilty of murdering veteran
(about 1 hour later)
A 21-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of an elderly former army captain who was beaten in his home. A 21-year-old man who conned his way into an elderly veteran's Tyneside home and beat him to death for £40 has been found guilty of murder.
Harry Lindley, 89, was found in a pool of blood at his bungalow in Wallsend in April last year. Harry Lindley, 89, was discovered in a pool of blood at his bungalow in Wallsend in April last year.
Michael Stevenson, of Westbury Avenue, Walker, had denied his murder. However, the jury took less than an hour to convict him at Newcastle Crown Court. The former army captain suffered at 15 least wounds to his head and face and died 26 days after the attack.
Mr Lindley suffered at least 15 wounds to his head and face and died in hospital 26 days later. Michael Stevenson, who was high on crack at the time, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court later.
During the trial, the jury heard how Stevenson, who was under the influence of alcohol and crack cocaine, fled the victim's house leaving him conscious, but badly beaten, after conning his way in. Stevenson, who had denied murder, said he found Mr Lindley on the floor bleeding profusely from his head when he entered his house.
Bleeding profusely 'Brutal attack'
Mr Lindley's carer, Veronica Sanderson, found him the following morning. The crack cocaine addict said he did not call for help because he thought someone else had already done so.
He had suffered injuries to 15 parts of his body, including severe bruising to both sides of his skull and damage to his larynx.
Stevenson claimed that Mr Lindley was lying on the floor and bleeding profusely from his head when he entered the house, but did not call for help because he thought someone else had already done so.
The court was told that Stevenson used his victim's telephone to call his drug dealer and a taxi to take him away from the house.The court was told that Stevenson used his victim's telephone to call his drug dealer and a taxi to take him away from the house.
Stevenson will be sentenced later. Mr Lindley's carer, Veronica Sanderson, found the veteran the following morning.
He had suffered injuries to 15 parts of his body, including severe bruising to both sides of his skull and damage to his larynx.
Prosecutor Simon Bourne-Arton QC told the trial the forensic evidence showed it was Stevenson who had beaten the pensioner.
"The attacker, who having gained entry into his home, subjected him to what can only properly be described as a brutal attack, before leaving, having stolen Mr Lindley's purse and cash."
The jury took less than an hour to convict Stevenson, of Westbury Avenue, Walker, of murder.
The prosecution said the offence was so serious that the Crown was asking the judge to consider a sentencing with a starting point of 30 years.The prosecution said the offence was so serious that the Crown was asking the judge to consider a sentencing with a starting point of 30 years.