The sister of Anthony Sharma, who was brutally murdered in a Birmingham HMO, has spoken out against the 11-year jail sentence given to his killer, describing it as “disgusting” and a “joke.”
Anthony Sharma, 43, was beaten, stabbed, and strangled to death by 37-year-old Diogo Bettencourt in November 2023. Bettencourt concealed Anthony’s body in a sleeping bag inside the Erdington HMO they shared on Doidge Road before attempting to use his bank card eight times.
After a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Bettencourt was sentenced to a minimum of 11 years and 237 days in prison. The discovery of Anthony’s body came when the property’s landlady entered his room and found the grim scene.
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Speaking to BirminghamLive, heartbroken Anora Sharma expressed her disbelief and anguish at the sentence. “It’s a joke,” she said. “My big brother was failed by the justice system. If you take a life, your own should be taken. He left my brother like that for two or three days. It’s terrible. Eleven years is disgusting. He will be out in six.”
Bettencourt’s defense outlined that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which they argued influenced his behavior. However, Anora rejected this defense, stating, “We all have mental health struggles. That doesn’t justify killing someone for no reason. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Anora, one of seven siblings, also revealed her belief that Bettencourt exploited her brother’s learning difficulties. She described their childhood as challenging, especially after losing their parents at a young age. “It was hard hearing the trial details. I never imagined my brother would die like this,” she said.
Anthony Sharma was known among his family and community as a kind, selfless man. His partner of seven years and his brother have both spoken about the devastating impact his loss has had on their lives.
On the night of the murder, Anthony had bought alcohol and given money to Bettencourt, who in turn purchased sweets. The fatal attack occurred between 10:30 pm on November 8 and 2:30 am the next day.
The injuries inflicted on Anthony were extensive—over 60 separate external wounds, including a stab to the side of the face and a serious wound to the throat.
During sentencing, Judge Farrer acknowledged the severity of the attack and Bettencourt’s intention to kill. The judge also noted Bettencourt’s ongoing mental health issues, stating he requires long-term treatment and poses a potential risk if his symptoms worsen.
It was also revealed that Bettencourt had been using heroin leading up to the attack and had prior drug-trafficking convictions from Canada.
Anora Sharma’s plea for justice reflects the pain of losing a loved one to violent crime and her belief that the punishment handed down does not match the gravity of the offense.