Anthony Hall guilty of murdering Rhoda Youson with garden fork
A man has been found guilty of murdering a woman with a garden fork.
Rhoda Youson, 57, was found dead at a flat in Blyth Court, Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, in November last year.
Warwickshire Police said she had been "ferociously attacked" in her bed and suffered severe facial and head injuries which led to her death.
Anthony Hall, 48, of no fixed abode, was convicted in his absence at Birmingham Crown Court.
Police said Hall, who is in custody, had been absent for several days during the trial and was not present to hear the verdict due to "serious illness".
The court heard he murdered Ms Youson in the early hours of 24 November. CCTV footage was viewed by jurors, showing Hall using Ms Youson's bank card to withdraw money.
'Heart of gold'
In a statement released following the guilty verdict, Ms Youson's family described her as "kind and generous".
They added: "Rhoda Youson had a heart of gold and would always help others without being asked.
"Words alone can not describe how we are feeling or how we've managed to function on a daily basis, and we would never, ever want any other family to go through what we have gone through over the last nine months.
"She is greatly missed by her daughters and grandchildren, her sisters, mother and friends."
Hall will be sentenced in September.