A drug dealer has been found guilty of the murder of Shaun McEvoy, 56, who tragically died after a violent attack in a Kennington flat exactly a year ago today.
Dedan Simmons, 40, of Clapham Road in Stockwell, was convicted of Shaun’s murder after a two-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
During the trial, the jury heard distressing details of the events leading to Shaun’s death. Shaun, described as leading a “chaotic lifestyle” due to his drug use, was in a flat on Durham Street in Kennington with three other individuals on February 15 last year.
The court was told that Simmons, also known as Elvis, entered the flat without invitation, demanding money from Shaun for drugs. In a fit of rage, Simmons shouted threats, assaulted Shaun by stamping on his chest, and menaced another person in the flat with a knife.
Prosecutor Anne Whyte recounted the harrowing scene: “He pushed Mr. McEvoy to the floor and then he stamped on his chest heavily. He then threw his weight about in what you will see was a small and somewhat congested room by picking up objects and throwing them and demanding that he be repaid his money.”
Witnesses in the flat corroborated the violence, with one individual describing Simmons’s aggressive behaviour and the terrifying moments when he brandished a knife, threatening to harm another person present.
Following the assault, Shaun complained of chest pain and was later found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. Despite efforts to save him, Shaun was pronounced dead at 5:24 pm, with the cause of death determined as blunt force trauma to the torso.
Simmons was apprehended at his residence on March 1, 2023, and although he denied the murder charge, the jury ultimately found him guilty.
Sentencing for Simmons will be carried out at a later date, marking the conclusion of a tragic case that underscores the devastating consequences of drug-related violence and exploitation in our communities.
