Ashley Crowder, 36, is convicted by a jury of murdering Graham Cox, 37, following a case heard at Bolton Crown Court. Reports say Cox was held at Crowder’s flat in Farnworth, Greater Manchester, for around two weeks before he died. Multiple outlets describe the killing as involving violence, including beating and strangulation. One report also says Crowder drained Cox’s bank account and stole his benefits during the period Cox was held. Crowder is due to be sentenced after the conviction, with sentencing scheduled for late July, and another report describing the sentence as taking place next month. The conviction follows a trial in which prosecutors presented evidence relating to the hostage period, the circumstances of Cox’s death, and alleged financial exploitation. The case focuses on both the deprivation of liberty and the actions taken during the victim’s captivity, culminating in Cox’s death at Crowder’s address.