Simon Brown has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the fatal assault of 71-year-old William Rowe in Rochester. The deadly incident occurred inside a property on Mercury Close following an argument between the two men.
Mr Rowe had been staying at the home while decorating it for a friend of Brown’s. On the night of Sunday, 3 September 2023, Mr Rowe was relaxing in the living room when Brown and an associate arrived at around 11pm. What began as a conversation quickly escalated into a violent argument.
Brown launched a prolonged and brutal attack, causing serious injuries to Mr Rowe’s face and chest. Instead of seeking medical help, Brown left the house at 4.30am the following morning without calling an ambulance.
Less than 24 hours later, CCTV footage showed Brown returning to the property. However, rather than checking on Mr Rowe, he took his car and drove away. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Chatham by police.
Brown remained silent about the attack until two days later when he confessed to a family member that he had beaten Mr Rowe so severely he feared he had killed him. Kent Police were contacted on 5 September, and officers discovered Mr Rowe’s lifeless body hidden under a blanket with severe injuries to his head and body.
Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate arrested Brown the same day. Body-worn camera footage captured his admission that he had “beat the victim badly.” Initially charged with murder, Brown denied the charge. However, a Maidstone Crown Court jury found him not guilty of murder.
Brown later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 13 June 2024. He must serve two-thirds of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole and will face an additional four years on extended licence.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Lawry condemned the attack, stating, “Brown’s violent outburst left Mr Rowe with horrendous injuries. Despite knowing the extent of the harm, he failed to seek medical help and fled to save himself. This fit of rage cost Mr Rowe his life and left Brown facing a hefty prison sentence. His actions have devastated the victim’s family. The sheer level of violence shows he intended serious harm and must now face the consequences.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
