Norwich man jailed for mininum of 18 years for murder of friend

A Norwich man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years - after he beat a friend to death in his own home last year.

64 year old Stephen Grimwood was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court yesterday (January 3) for the murder of 58 year old Mark Franklin.

The court heard how Franklin was found with 'traumatic' head injuries on the floor of his living room in Appleyard Crescent on April 29. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His injuries were so severe police initially thought he'd been shot. A pathologist confirmed he'd died after suffering 'devastating' blunt force trauma to his head.

Grimwood was caught on CCTV leaving Franklin's home on April 26, before using his bank card to withdraw £500 at a cash machine.

Witnesses told police Grimwood was a regular visitor to Mr Franklin's home. It's alleged Grimwood owed around £3500 to Mr Franklin and refused to settle the debt.

Bloody footprints were discovered in Mark's kitchen, which were later matched with Grimwood's footwear.

DI Lewis Craske of Norfolk Police, who led the investigation, said after the conviction:

“This was a violent attack that was so ferocious it appeared to officers who discovered Mark’s body that it may have been a shooting."

"It’s impossible for most of us to even imagine committing such terrible violence to another person.

“It’s very sad that Mark’s life ended with such brutality and at the hands of someone he considered to be his friend – in fact, Grimwood was perhaps one of the few people who had been a consistent presence in his life over several years."