Man who murdered chef sentenced to life

A man who murdered a chef in Shrewsbury has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.

Adam Rowson, 26, of no fixed address, carried out what the prosecution described as a "brutal and sustained assault" on Alexis De Naray, 46, last year.

The men had met at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in the early hours of 24 June and Rowson offered De Naray somewhere to stay. The chef's body was found three days later in an empty garage near Shelton Water Tower in the town.

The killer subjected him to a "fierce, sustained and relentless attack" and "left him to die", judge Avik Mukherjee told Stafford Crown Court.

The court heard De Naray suffered a traumatic brain injury, with severe rib fractures that it was told are associated with stamping and kicking.

Rowson, who was convicted of murder last month, stole the victim's bank card, using it to buy alcohol and scratch cards.

The judge said: "[De Naray] was a damaged and vulnerable person who was struggling with alcoholism up until his passing."

He added: "By the time you [Rowson] left him in the disused garage, probably on the 25th June, he had been so severely beaten by you he was dying or dead.

"Rather than calling for help, you left him to die."

The victim's father, Constantine De Naray, said "no parent should have to bury their own child".

His son was a "very talented chef" and his death had had a "life-changing" impact on family, the father stated.

Younger brother Alexandros De Naray said his sibling was "my best friend", a "very charitable character" and "extremely funny and outgoing".

The judge stated Rowson "lied to emergency services and you lied to police at the scene".

He also said the killer offered De Naray "a place to stay, food, clothing and company" and "rather than helping him, you [Rowson] left him to die".

The judge said Rowson was "spending as much as you possibly could" on the victim's bank card.

"You threw clothes away that you thought might implicate you," he stated.

Defending, Michelle Heeley KC said Rowson was sorry and alcohol and drugs had contributed "significantly" to what he had done.

She said he "recognises the pain he has caused the family" and that he was now clean of drink and drugs.

Rowson was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years, less 311 days on remand.

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