MAN BEATEN TO DEATH AFTER STEALING HIS ROOMMATE'S CHICKEN FOOT

A 52-year-old Tampa man is facing manslaughter charges after allegedly beating his roommate to death in a dispute over a chicken foot.

James Jugo allegedly attacked Benjamin Calderon, 56, after he took the chicken foot from a skillet where Jugo was cooking, it has been reported.

An autopsy revealed Calderon, who had recently become homeless, suffered internal bleeding after being hit numerous times on the face, neck and elsewhere.

A witness told police that she saw Jugo hit Calderon with a board.

Mr Calderon's brother Bolivar told the Tampa Bay Times how he had moved in with Jugo after staying at a shelter.

He said his brother, who leaves a mother, two brothers, a sister and children, had been trying to save money for a license so he could work as an armed security officer.

He said: 'No one deserves to die over a chicken foot.'

Authorities in Tampa say Jugo was arrested after the beating death of Mr Calderon on Saturday.

Jugo was jailed on $15,000 bail. Court records did not indicate whether he had hired a lawyer.

Public records show Jugo has been arrested 19 times previously in Florida.