Man guilty of Norwich hammer attack murder

A man who attacked his neighbour with a hammer, leaving her with 59 injuries, has been convicted of murder.

Farnaz Ali, 49, was found beaten to death in the bathroom of Danny Williams' flat in Godric Place, Norwich, after she disappeared when going for a walk.

Williams, 27, who had denied murder, was found guilty by a jury at Norwich Crown Court earlier.

He will be sentenced at the court on Friday.

Ms Ali's injured body was found covered by a sheet in the flat in July 2017, the court was told.

Psychiatrist Lisa Wootton said brain damage suffered at birth had resulted in Williams' cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

Jurors were told Ms Ali, who lived opposite Mr Williams but "barely knew" him, had been reported missing by her partner on 28 July 2017.

After the killing, Williams took a taxi to a flat in Windsor Road in Lowestoft where he spent the night with his friend Thomas Smalley, the jury heard.

Williams had also asked for Mr Smalley's help burning a bag containing blood-stained clothing and carpet cut from his living room floor, the court heard.

Mr Smalley became concerned after Williams had said on arrival at the flat: "I've murdered someone."

He dismissed it as "another lie" but because of his behaviour overnight he called the police next day while away from the flat.

On his return he found Williams outside on the phone to police.

Williams covered the phone and said: "I smashed her head in 10 times with the hammer," Mr Smalley told the court.

A search in the Denes Oval area of Lowestoft recovered a hammer police believe was the murder weapon.

Officers then forced entry to Williams' flat and discovered Ms Ali's body.