Three jailed for hammer murder

Mar 30 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

THREE men will each have to serve at least 15 years behind bars for the "brutal and vicious" murder of a Midland father bludgeoned to death with a hammer.

The body of 58-year-old Michael William Cutler was discovered in Warrens Hall Park in Rowley Regis in October 2004.

Killer Iain Walden, 32, of Ragley Walk, Rowley Regis, blamed Mr Cutler for the break-up of his parents' marriage after he had a relationship with his mother.

Walden admitted murder and was yesterday sentenced to a minimum jail term of 15 years when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court.

Two brothers, Justin Billingham, 34, of Bridgefield Walk, Rowley Regis, and Mark Billingham, 25, of Daventry, Northamptonshire, were both sentenced to serve a minimum of 17 years. They had both denied murder but were found guilty.

The body of divorced Mr Cutler was discovered hidden in undergrowth at the beauty spot on October 8, 2004.

The court heard that Mr Cutler was abducted from the Whiteheath Gate in Blackheath, driven to the park and then smashed over the head repeatedly with a hammer. He died from multiple head injuries.

His body was not found until several days later, on heathland near Banklands Road.

Yesterday's sentencing of the three men came at the end of a retrial for the Billingham brothers after the jury in the original trial was discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

Police originally put out a missing person appeal on Mr Cutler before his body was found and a murder inquiry launched.

After the sentencing, investigating officer Insp Mark Nevitt said he was pleased that justice had finally been done.

"I am happy with the sentence given and although nothing will ever bring Mr Cutler back, his family are also satisfied with the sentences and now perhaps they can move on with their lives.

"This was a particularly brutal and vicious attack.

"Mr Cutler was abducted from his local, bundled into a car and driven to Warrens Hall Park, where he was subjected to a savage beating with a hammer.

"Then the defendants tried to conceal his body in undergrowth and Mr Cutler's body was not found until two or three days after he disappeared.

"Apparently it all stemmed from Walden being unhappy about Mr Cutler's relationship with his mother," he added.

The court heard that the Billingham brothers had gone with Walden in search of Mr Cutler on the night of his horrific death. They tried to claim they wanted to find him to pay him money he was owed.