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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Life term for murder of veteran | Life term for murder of veteran |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 21-year-old man who conned his way into a World War II veteran's Tyneside home and beat him to death for £40 has been jailed for life. | |
| Harry Lindley, 89, was discovered 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. |
| The former Army captain suffered at least 15 wounds to his head and face and died 26 days after the attack. | The former Army captain suffered at least 15 wounds to his head and face and died 26 days after the attack. |
| Crack cocaine addict Michael Stevenson, who had denied murder, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 20 years. | |
| Stevenson told Newcastle Crown Court he found Mr Lindley on the floor bleeding profusely from his head when he entered his house. | Stevenson told Newcastle Crown Court he found Mr Lindley on the floor bleeding profusely from his head when he entered his house. |
| He said he did not call for help because he thought someone else had already done so. | |
| Vulnerable man | Vulnerable man |
| The court heard that Stevenson, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, used his victim's telephone to call his drug dealer and a taxi to take him away from the house. | The court heard that Stevenson, who was high on crack cocaine at the time, used his victim's telephone to call his drug dealer and a taxi to take him away from the house. |
| Mr Lindley's carer, Veronica Sanderson, found the veteran the following morning. | 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. | 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. | Prosecutor Simon Bourne-Arton QC told the trial the forensic evidence showed it was Stevenson who had beaten the pensioner. |
| Harry Lindley died 26 days after the "brutal" attack | Harry Lindley died 26 days after the "brutal" attack |
| "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 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." |
| On Wednesday the jury took less than an hour to convict Stevenson, of Westbury Avenue, Walker, of murder. | On Wednesday the jury took less than an hour to convict Stevenson, of Westbury Avenue, Walker, of murder. |
| Passing sentence, Mr Justice Walker said: "You are responsible for the murder of this vulnerable man. | Passing sentence, Mr Justice Walker said: "You are responsible for the murder of this vulnerable man. |
| "I do not say that you intended to kill but the extent of the injuries you inflicted upon Harry Lindley, you intended that he should suffer really serious bodily harm. | "I do not say that you intended to kill but the extent of the injuries you inflicted upon Harry Lindley, you intended that he should suffer really serious bodily harm. |
| "Harry Lindley was a man who had served his country during the Second World War and had served in India, Africa and Egypt. | "Harry Lindley was a man who had served his country during the Second World War and had served in India, Africa and Egypt. |
| "This tragic death has been devastating for those who knew, loved or cared for Harry Lindley." | "This tragic death has been devastating for those who knew, loved or cared for Harry Lindley." |
| Mr Lindley's daughter, Sheila Davey, said in a family statement that her father was a fine, upstanding man who was sorely missed. | Mr Lindley's daughter, Sheila Davey, said in a family statement that her father was a fine, upstanding man who was sorely missed. |
| "We are pleased that justice has been done and that Michael Stevenson will no longer be free to walk the streets and put another family through what he has put us through," she added. | "We are pleased that justice has been done and that Michael Stevenson will no longer be free to walk the streets and put another family through what he has put us through," she added. |
| "However, no sentence can ever compensate for our devastating loss." | "However, no sentence can ever compensate for our devastating loss." |