Grandfather beaten to death in his home

A man from Smethwick has been found guilty of beating a vulnerable grandfather to death in his own home.

Carl Hall, aged 35, killed 57-year-old Walter Minter at his home in Weoley Castle last year after befriending him.

He was being sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court today but will be handed a mandatory life sentence after a jury found him guilty of murder. Hall, of Great Arthur Street, was convicted after the court heard he launched a brutal attack in the early hours of August 22.

Mr Minter, who was known to his friends by his middle name Stephen, suffered serious head injuries in the beating and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speaking outside court, Det Insp Simon Astle said: "Walter Minter was a vulnerable member of our community and was in need of friendship and support. Sadly he found the opposite in Carl Hall who abused that trust.

"Throughout the trial, Hall, as part of his defence called Stephen his friend. He repaid that friendship in the most brutal way.

"The guilty verdict will not bring Stephen back but I hope it helps his family come to terms with their loss and have some comfort justice has been served."

Mr Minter's family released a statement after the verdict.

It said: "Stephen's death and the way he died was a great shock to the whole family, especially mum, dad and his two sons and although Stephen had problems he was well liked by many people who knew him.

"It is especially sad that he should have been killed just after he became a grandfather for the first time and was slowly getting to know his sons after being estranged from them.

"We will never know if Stephen would have been able to overcome his problems sufficiently for him to build on this tentative start and have a meaningful relationship with his sons and their families.

"Stephen had lived his own life in his own way for a number of years but changed and physically deteriorated in the few months before he was killed. We feel that he was taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who recognised a vulnerable person who they could manipulate to their own ends."