Marty Bates has been jailed for murdering John Littlewood in his own home A MAN who bludgeoned his friend to death with a hammer in a gratuitous violent attack following a drunken row has been jailed for life. Marty Bates carried out the vicious and callous” murder before carrying on like normal in the following days. The 31-year-old let himself into the John Littlewood s Blackhall Colliery home in the early hours of July 26, 2019, before launching the fatal and sustained attack on his prone victim. Today, he appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for the brutal murder. The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Paul Watson QC, told Bates whatever he did to upset you didn t warrant the level of violence he inflicted on him in brutal, ferocious and sustained attack .
BBC News
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image captionJohn Littlewood, also known as John D, was described as a loving son
A man who bludgeoned his friend to death while he slept in his home has been jailed for life.
John Littlewood, 36, was found dead with serious head injuries at an address in Third Street in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, in July 2019.
Marty Bates initially denied murder but changed his plea to guilty during his trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The 31-year-old, of Tenth Street in the village, must serve a minimum of 24 years.
His partner, Tracey Bunney, 44, who was also charged with murder, was cleared following a trial in April.
A hammer and smashed skull and a BMW: How Marty Bates murdered dad John Littlewood in his own bed
John Littlewood was found dead at his home in Blackhall Colliery by his on-off partner
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Dad John Littlewood was described by his family as having a heart of gold .
The 36-year-old, known as John D, was found dead at at his home in Blackhall Colliery, near Hartlepool.
Woman cleared of murdering John Littlewood after brutal hammer attack gazettelive.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gazettelive.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.