Cynthia Beamond

Philip Silverstone and Cynthia Beamond were both murdered within three days of each other.

However, their lives were otherwise unconnected.

A man suspected of murdering both of them was arrested on 3 July 2014 and charged with their murders. However, he denied murdering them, saying that Philip Silverstone had been murdered by a Polish man.

However, whilst on trial the man hung himself just shortly before he was due to be cross-examined by the prosecution.

Philip Silverstone had been stabbed to death in a rest home in Spencer House in Belsize Park Gardens on 30 June 2014 whilst Cynthia Beamond was beaten to death with a car jack on 27 June 2014 in Halesowen, West Midlands.

The Police were called to Philip Silverstone's home at about 10.35am and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Spencer House was a block of supported flats. His wife, who had dementia had been left alone with Philip Silverstone's bloodstained body for over thirty hours before his death was discovered.

Cynthia Beamond's post-mortem stated that she died from head injuries. She had been beaten to death with a saucepan and her body hidden in her home.

At the man's trial, the prosecution said that the man had tried to sell Cynthia Beamond's TV and car after he had killed her.

The man had admitted to having once lived in the same building as Philip Silverstone and he also admitted dealing in cocaine.

It was heard that the man had known Cynthia Beamond as his grandparents had lived on her street, Juliet Road in Halesowen when he was growing up. He had also already known Philip Silverstone who was a former neighbour of his.

He had been in HMP Hewell in Redditch when he was found hanged in his cell at 6.05am on Sunday 25 January 2015. The Ministry of Justice said that the man had been being monitored for self harm at the time that was found hanged. His inquest returned a verdict of suicide.