Adam Rowson, 26, was found guilty of murdering 45-year-old chef Alexis De Naray who was found dead in an abandoned building near the Shelton water tower in Shrewsbury
Adam Rowson was found guilty of murder(Image: West Mercia Police)
A man who brutally killed a head chef and used his bankcard to buy alcohol and scratchcards has been jailed for at least 16 years for his murder.
Adam Rowson, 26, was found guilty of murdering Alexis De Naray on April 8 following following a 12-day trial and has been sentenced today at Stafford Crown Court over his “fierce, sustained and relentless” attack.
Jailing him for life on Wednesday, Judge Avik Mukherjee said Rowson, of no fixed abode, had believed he had killed Mr De Naray when he “callously” used his card and “freely spent his money on anything that pleased you” until he was stopped by the bank.
The defendant, who wore glasses and a blue T-shirt with a collar in the dock, showed no emotion and nodded his head as the judge handed down his sentence.
The court heard Rowson and Mr De Naray, 45, had met at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in the early hours of June 24 last year and within a short period of time, the defendant had offered the victim, who was also an alcoholic, a place to stay for one night.
Judge Mukherjee said: “By the time you left him in the disused garage, probably on the 25th June, he had been so severely beaten by you he was dying or dead.
“You left him in that physical state. Rather than calling for help, you left him to die. You covered his body… because you knew what you had done to him.”
Rowson left Mr De Naray, who studied at Leiths School of Food and Wine and had previously worked at Claridge’s, with a traumatic brain injury and 20 rib fractures, three of which occurred after his death, and multiple injuries to his head, torso and upper limbs.
The nature of his injuries are usually associated with stamping or kicks or strikes with objects, and a post-mortem examination found Mr De Naray had defensive injuries to his back consistent with him being in a foetal position to protect himself.
In a victim impact statement read out by prosecution counsel Sally Howes KC, Alexandros De Naray said his older brother was “one of the most caring and loving people I have ever known”.
He said: “He was my best friend I loved him more than I could ever explain… I think every day how I can never see him again and one of the people I loved most in the world has been taken away from me in such a horrible way.
“I can only hope he felt no pain in his last moments and he is now at peace. I just hope everyone remembers he was a kind and loving person who meant so much to us and will always been in our memories every day.”
His father Constantine De Naray said his son was “funny, kind, thoughtful, generous and a loving son”. He said: “My wonderful boy did not deserve to lose his life… He was a dear son who we will forever miss.
“He was a very talented chef who worked in London until he became unwell and moved to Shrewsbury to be close to family. He was gradually getting better when he sadly lost his life. No parent should have to bury a child, more especially in these horrendous circumstances.”
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mukherjee said: “It is clear the person they knew and loved so very dearly was warm, kind-hearted, compassionate and courageous. He never gave up on people. He was a damaged and vulnerable person who was struggling with alcoholism up until his passing.”
He told Rowson: “He was a survivor and he survived up until he had the misfortune of meeting you.” The judge said in his view, Rowson had been fully aware he had killed Mr De Naray in his brutal assault but did not call the emergency services for days, when he pretended he had found the body.
He also threw away a T-shirt he had been wearing, which the judge said showed how “forensically astute your thinking was at the time”. Rowson allegedly told a friend: “Have you heard about the situation, it got bad bro, I don’t even want to go home because I think I killed someone.”
The judge added: “You lied to the emergency services, you lied to police at the scene. Only you know the full detail of what you did. I’m sure you have not told the truth at any stage about the assault on Alexis.”
Defending, Michelle Heeley KC said Rowson was sorry and that alcohol and drugs had contributed “significantly” to what he had done. She said: “Through me he would like to apologise… he recognises the pain he has caused the family.
“He is still a relatively young man, 26 now and not particularly mature. While in custody he has found a job… he is trying to pay his debt in some minor way. The structure has benefitted him. He is clean now of drink and drugs. He can say no more other than he is sorry and accepts the punishment of the court.”
