Homeless man arrested in fatal beating

[FreakyFrog]

BY ADAM H. BEASLEY
abeasley@miamiherald.com
An argument over a cigarette between two Hollywood homeless men early Saturday ended with one bludgeoning the other to death with a metal pipe.

Robert Stone, 37, has been charged with murder, not premeditated, after admitting to police that he repeatedly struck Joseph G. Charlton, 55, in the head, arm and torso, according to arrest report.

Officers discovered Charlton's lifeless body near a vacant bowling alley at 296 South State Road 7 about 10 a.m. Saturday.

Charlton, with a gash on his forehead, was lying in a pool of his own blood. There was also a trail of blood leading to a nearby mattress.

Authorities believe that Stone pounded Charlton while the latter was laying down, then ran off and dumped his clothing and the murder weapon in nearby dumpsters. Cops later recovered the white, blood-stained pipe and Stone's soiled hat and T-shirt.

While police were on the scene, a third homeless man came forward, saying that Stone had bragged to him about giving Charlton a ``helluva whupping last night.''

Police tracked Stone down Saturday night, and he agreed to come in for questioning voluntarily.

It was then he admitted to the beating. The two exchanged heated words over a smoke, which caused Stone to pick up the pipe and start swinging, he said, prompting his arrest.

Stone is being held without bail at the Broward County jail



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/0...#ixzz0spwhlkAq

[Valasca]

I love Miami.
OK, i'm lying. I avoid that place like the plague.

[Pete Bondurant]

An argument over a cigarette between two Hollywood homeless men early Saturday ended with one bludgeoning the other to death with a metal pipe.

Although I support an aggressive solution to the homeless problem, this method does not seem efficacious in an over-all sense.

[Angelinfl]

The guy may reflect and think its better to have 3 hots and a cot and not have to worry much about life anymore. He's now on the public dime in their hotel.

[Ninja0980]

The guy may reflect and think its better to have 3 hots and a cot and not have to worry much about life anymore. He's now on the public dime in their hotel.

He's simply going from one jungle to another....not much of a difference.

[MichaelJCheaney]

On the bright side.......homeless guy is no longer Homeless.....