Seventy-four-year-old pensioner William Warner was a generous-hearted man, and when he met borstal inmate Nicholas Pointer, 19, he thought the lad should be given a better chance in life.
Pointer had been allowed out into the community in order to rehabilitate himself, and the frail pensioner, who lived in one of the old peoples cottages in the grounds of Norwich Great Hospital, took him as a friend, despite warnings from his elderly neighbours.
Sadly for old William, his friendship was ill repaid. On Monday, APRIL 1st, 1973, police went to his home and found him dead, beaten beyond all recognition. Pointer was soon arrested.
The motive for the murder was burglary, and all he stole was just a few pounds. At Norwich Crown Court on June 28th he was sentenced to life imprisonment.