The first photograph of Alexis De Naray, a 45-year-old chef described as 'caring and loving', has been released following his brutal murder at the hands of a homeless man he had offered shelter to. Adam Rowson, 26, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years for the killing.
Alexis De Naray had been admitted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after collapsing on June 23 last year. During the early hours of the following day, he encountered Rowson at the hospital. The two men, both struggling with alcoholism, subsequently made their way to an abandoned building near the Shelton water tower in Shrewsbury, where Rowson had been living.
On June 27, at approximately 11:45 am, Rowson contacted the non-emergency police number 101, claiming he had discovered a deceased man in the attic of the building. He remained at the scene until emergency services arrived. Later, Rowson admitted to officers that he and the victim had been involved in an altercation several days earlier, after which he left De Naray at the location.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr De Naray had sustained multiple serious injuries, including a brain injury and broken ribs. However, the precise cause of death could not be determined. The investigation established that Rowson had used the victim's bank cards in the days following the murder to purchase alcohol, scratchcards, food, clothing, and travel tickets, as well as to withdraw cash.
West Mercia Police stated: 'It is not known exactly when Alexis was murdered, but officers believe it was either late Tuesday evening (June 24) or early Wednesday morning (June 25) based on Rowson’s behaviour.' Rowson, of no fixed abode, was convicted of murder by a jury after a 12-day trial at Stafford Crown Court earlier this year.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim's younger brother, Alexandros De Naray, described his sibling as 'one of the most caring and loving people I have ever known'. He added: '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.'
