Homeless man who battered friend to death at his Sandwell flat is jailed for life
A homeless thug who bludgeoned to death a friend who had given him a place to sleep has been jailed for at least 15 years and five months.
Darren Lander savagely attacked 32-year-old Richard Groves shortly after starting to stay at the flat at Alfred Gunn House in Thompson Road, Langley.
The 28-year old hit the victim around 40 times with a large rock and a piece of broken furniture after a row flared between them, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The blows rained down on his head and neck fracturing the skull in several places, said Mr Michael Duck QC, prosecuting. They also broke ribs.
"It was a sustained attack with over 40 sites of injury with the most serious injuries on the face and head," revealed Mr Duck.
The 12 minutes of violence erupted after the two men returned to the flat together on the evening of May 16.
The beating could have been triggered by an unfounded belief of Lander that money had been taken from his aunt by Mr Groves, the court heard.
The defendant maintained the rock was kept as a weapon by the victim who allegedly owed money to a drug dealer.
Mr Duck said: "The two men had a mutual interest in class A drugs. Because of this they were frequently at the address where Richard Groves let him stay."
The defendant claimed to be able to remember little of the details of the assault because he suffered a 'blackout'.
But he made no effort to get assistance as the man lay dying in the bedroom and continued to use the flat for the next two days before ringing a policeman to confess.
He told the officer: "I need to be picked up. I have killed Richard Groves in the bedroom of his flat."
Lander was arrested from outside the home of a relative in Halesowen.
He had battered a man with a brick during a bust-up in May 2015. That did not result in a prosecution after he claimed lawful self-defence, the court was told.
Lander, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for life. He must serve at least 15 years and five months before he can be considered for parole.
Police are still unsure of the exact motive for the murder but Det Insp Warren Hines said after the case: "Lander is a violent, unstable thug who, in horrific circumstances, murdered somebody who had shown him kindness.
"He then left Mr Groves lying dead in his flat for days before finally calling his offender manager and confessing to the murder.
"I hope that the sentence handed down today brings some comfort to Mr Groves' family."
