Rochester: Man jailed for killing 71-year-old in 'fit of rage'
Simon Brown killed William Rowe in September 2023
A man who killed a 71-year-old man during an argument at a house in Rochester has been jailed for 13 years.
Simon Brown attacked William Rowe at the home in Mercury Close last September.
The 28-year-old from Snowdon Close in Chatham was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
William Rowe had been staying at the house while he was decorating it for a friend of Brown’s.
Police said Brown subjected him to a prolonged and vicious assault, leaving him with serious facial and chest injuries.
A court heard he left the house without calling an ambulance.
CCTV showed Brown returning to the property less than 24 hours later.
Instead of going inside to check on Mr Rowe he collected his car and drove away - the car was later found abandoned in Chatham.
Brown initially kept quiet about what had happened, but finally told a family member two days later he had assaulted Mr Rowe and thought he had killed him.
Police found the victim dead underneath a blanket in the living room with injuries to his head and body.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Lawry of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Brown’s violent outburst left Mr Rowe with horrendous injuries and despite knowing he had severely injured him, he did not seek medical help but instead fled the property, seeking to only protect himself.
"This fit of rage has ultimately led to Mr Rowe losing his life and has left Brown facing an extensive prison sentence.
"His family have also been affected by his actions and must now come to terms with what he has done.
"The sheer level of violence he used suggested that he was intent on causing serious harm to Mr Rowe and he must now face the consequence of his actions."