Life imprisonment for Maidstone prisoner who murdered fellow inmate

A prisoner who murdered a fellow inmate at HMP Maidstone has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sasan Rabat was responsible for an assault in his own cell, which left the victim suffering severe injuries.

Staff entered the cell on 9 December 2021, where they found Rabat sitting on a bed, while Stefan Adi was lying fatally wounded in a corner of the room.

Rabat had used furniture including a locker and a table in attempts to conceal Mr Adi’s body and covered him in blankets and towels.

The 24-year-old had suffered multiple puncture wounds and lacerations to this throat, as well as significant injuries to his head.

Prison officers recovered a chair from the cell, which had been broken, as well as the shattered remains of a ceramic toilet lid.

Both had been used to inflict injuries on Mr Adi, who was confirmed deceased at the scene.

Rabat was arrested and stated in police interviews he had acted in self-defence, claiming Mr Adi had entered his cell and threatened him with a razor blade.

He was charged with murder and remanded in custody, pending a trial.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Rabat, now 27, admitted killing Mr Adi but argued a defence of diminished responsibility. A jury found him guilty of murder by unanimous verdict.

On 12 March 2025, Judge Philip Statman told the court Rabat had improvised two weapons in a case which involved an ‘extreme level of violence’ and which had deprived two young children of their father.

Sentencing him to life, he ordered Rabat serve a minimum of 19 years before he can be considered for parole.