A STAFFORD man has been convicted of murdering his friend in a suspected row over drugs.
Simon Taylor, 36, concealed the body of Mark Carroll for two months at his home in Marston Road before he was arrested by detectives in March 2011.
He denied murder but was found guilty following a two-week trial at Stafford Crown Court this afternoon.
Detective Inspector Darren Harding, who led the inquiry, said: “Both men were heavy drugs users and it appears that Mark was, tragically, killed in a row over drugs.
“Mark’s family are continuing to receive our support at this tremendously difficult time. Hopefully, today’s outcome at court will come as some comfort to them.”
The court previously heard how Mr Carroll, 35, had been sleeping at Taylor’s rented house for several weeks prior to his death. Both men were drug users.
He was reported missing by his mother on March 17, by which time he had not been seen by anybody for more than seven weeks.
Officers investigating his disappearance arrested Taylor on March 29 and then discovered Mr Carroll’s body in an upstairs bedroom at Taylor’s home.
A post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist was unable to establish the exact cause of death due to the time that elapsed before his body was found. However, the suspected cause was the fracture of thyroid cartilage in Mr Carroll’s neck.
Taylor will be sentenced at the same court on February 3.
