Diogo Bettencourt, 27, has been found guilty of murdering Anthony Sharma, 43, in a chilling case that rocked Erdington last November. The verdict was delivered today at Birmingham Crown Court.
Final Moments and Cold-Blooded Crime
On the night of 8 November 2023, Anthony Sharma was last seen alive heading to an off-licence with Bettencourt. They returned to their shared home on Doidge Road around 10.30pm—the last confirmed sighting of Anthony.
Four hours later, Bettencourt was spotted alone, trying to use Anthony’s bank card to withdraw cash. Shockingly, he went on to conduct several transactions the next day, exploiting the card for cash and purchases.
Body Found and Arrest Made
Anthony’s body was discovered on the morning of 10 November, wrapped in a sleeping bag. Forensic post-mortem revealed multiple injuries, including stab wounds and severe head trauma. Bettencourt was arrested at 1.30pm and remained silent during custody.
Callous Actions and Justice Served
“Throughout this investigation our thoughts have been with Anthony’s family who have patiently waited for two years to see justice be done,” said Detective Inspector Damian Forrest. “Bettencourt’s actions were callous as he went about his day having killed Anthony and even went on to use his bank card to make purchases. Thankfully, Bettencourt will now be spending a good amount of time behind bars.”
Bettencourt pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at trial’s start but denied murder. The jury disagreed. Sentencing will be set for a later date.
