A shocking incident has left the community in Maidstone, Kent, reeling as a woman has been charged with the murder of Matthew Bryant, a beloved pub landlord who was fatally stabbed just three days after celebrating his wedding anniversary.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday evening outside the Hare and Hounds pub on Lower Boxley Road, where Matthew Bryant, 52, was repeatedly stabbed. Police were called to the scene at approximately 6 p.m. in response to distressing reports. Emergency services arrived promptly and administered medical treatment to Mr. Bryant, but tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stephane Langley, a 54-year-old local resident who was known to the victim, was arrested at the scene. Kent Police have since charged her with murder, and she is scheduled to appear in court in the near future.
The news of Matthew Bryant’s untimely death has sent shockwaves throughout the community, where he was a prominent figure for 25 years, with the last eight years spent as the landlord of the Hare and Hounds. Tributes and condolences have poured in for the well-liked pub landlord.
Local resident Chris Leach expressed his deep sadness, stating, “Matt hadn’t got a bad bone in his body. You couldn’t help but love him.
Mark Osborne remembered Matthew and his wife Caroline as “the best landlords you could ever meet,” adding, “All my thoughts go out to all his family and friends. Heaven has got a true angel.
Another local, Daniel Hoggart, described Matthew Bryant as an “absolute gent.”
A spokesperson for the Kent Police issued a statement, confirming the charges against Stephane Langley. In the early hours of today, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of murder against Stephane Langley. She was also charged with a count of possessing a knife in a public place. The 54-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court.
