Man faces life sentence for murder of Wolverhampton father
48-year-old Roy Deeley-Price was found dead on Tettenhall Road on 29 May 2023
Last updated 26th Jan 2024
A man who brutally murdered a Wolverhampton father has been told he faces life in prison.
Carl Ellitts admitted to murdering 48-year-old Roy Deeley-Price at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Deeley-Price was found with serious injuries on Tettenhall Road on 29 May 2023.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
West Midlands Police say CCTV footage proved crucial in their investigation.
Footage showed 26-year-old Ellitts approach Mr Deeley-Price after he withdrew money from an ATM at a nearby petrol station before 10pm on 28 May.
It later showed Ellitts tripping Mr Deeley-Price, before holding him to the ground and stamping on his head and face up to six times, knocking him unconscious.
Mr Deeley-Price's body was later dragged into a bush, where it was found the following morning.
A post-mortem revealed Mr Deeley-Price suffered multiple blunt force injuries to his face and head.
A manhunt to find Ellitts was later launched, and he was arrested on 30 May.
CCTV footage also showed Ellitts committing a string of offences against vulnerable people in the four days before Mr Deeley-Price's murder.
Ellitts later admitted to three robberies and assault with intention to rob, and was found guilty of raping two women in a trial that concluded on Thursday.
He will be sentenced on 12 February.
Detective Inspector Damian Forrest, from West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Unit Homicide team said:
“Ellitts is an extremely violent bully who carried out a number of robberies and two rapes all targeted against vulnerable people in Wolverhampton before he attacked Mr Deeley-Price leaving him to die in the street.
“We are delighted with the verdict. Although this will never bring Roy back and it will not heal the family’s sense of loss, I hope securing convictions on all counts with sentencing to come will be justice.
“I would also like to commend the bravery of the two women who Ellitts raped. They courageously came to court during the trial and gave evidence, securing convictions for all his cowardly crimes.
“Lastly I would like to thank the communities of Wolverhampton that provided our investigation with information and assistance that allowed us to convict Ellitts of his crimes.”