MARTIN Carty and Mark Sothcott have been found guilty of murdering Franklin Ingram at a Yeovil flat.

The pair were found guilty of murdering Mr Ingram, who was better known as Frank, at Carty’s flat in Raglan Terrace in June.

The court heard it took more than 18 hours for either of them to call the emergency services, and when Carty did phone 999, he falsely claimed to have found Frank deceased on his sofa.

After a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, the jury unanimously found both men guilty of murder.

The jury was told that on the afternoon of June 22, there had been an exchange of words after Carty had left rubbish near Mr Ingram’s flat.

A CCTV recording was played in which 68-year-old Mr Ingram later described Carty as an ‘idiot’ to another individual, stating he was going to contact the housing association responsible for the flats.

The prosecution said that at shortly before 11pm, an “angry” Mr Ingram went up to Carty’s flat with a hammer. Both Carty and Sothcott were inside the address.

Jurors were told Mr Ingram and Carty became involved in a row before a fight between the three men ensued, in which the victim was headbutted and struck with the hammer.

A subsequent pathology report revealed Mr Ingram had sustained injuries to his face, head, torso, arms and legs.

Frank Ingram was killed at a Yeovil flat in June, the court found. Picture: Avon & Somerset Police

Carty called an ambulance at around 6.40pm the following day to say he had found Mr Ingram deceased. He claimed Mr Ingram had been to his flat the night before in an agitated state, and he had let him sleep on his couch.

The call-handler, unaware of what had taken place, encouraged Carty to put Mr Ingram in the recovery position but he refused.

Paramedics attended and found Mr Ingram had sustained several wounds which did not appear to be consistent with what Carty had said, and he was arrested on June 23.

Sothcott, of Stiby Road, was arrested the next day following information from members of the public about comments he had made after leaving Raglan Terrace the night Mr Ingram was killed.

During the police investigation, audio from CCTV cameras was sourced which enabled detectives to determine the pair knew Mr Ingram had died during the altercation.

Carty and Sothcott, both 56, were remanded to be sentenced at the same court in the new year, at a date to be finalised.

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Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Mark Almond, said: “The medical evidence clearly demonstrated that a serious and sustained violent attack was carried out against Frank Ingram. The severity of the injuries caused shows the true intent of their actions.

“They both knew they had at least seriously injured him, and most likely killed him, and the fact neither of them called the emergency services for more than 18 hours is truly horrendous.

“Frank Ingram’s family has received support from specially-trained officers ever since the tragic events of June 22 and our thoughts remain with them.

“While we welcome these verdicts and hope the family take comfort in the truth being put before the courts, we recognise this cannot erase the pain they continue to experience after such a devastating loss.”