Four men locked up for 80+ years over deadly Maidstone knife attack
Brutal stabbing outside Maidstone flats
Four men have been handed a combined sentence of over 80 years after a vicious knife attack in Maidstone left one man dead and a woman seriously injured.
In the early hours of 10 February 2019, 38-year-old Wesley Adyinka and a woman in her 30s were outside a block of flats on Knightrider Street when they were confronted by Alfie Caparn and Kevin Roach, whom they knew.
While the woman was on her phone, Roach threatened Mr Adyinka. As he tried to back away, Caparn grabbed him and forced him to the ground. Roach then plunged a knife into Mr Adyinka’s chest and attempted to stab him in the back.
The woman tried to intervene but Caparn dragged her away as Roach stabbed her left thigh.
Getaway and arrest
The attackers fled to a nearby BMW on Priory Road, driven by Rodney Harris with Julian Grant as a passenger. Emergency services arrived quickly, but Mr Adyinka was pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
Less than an hour later, armed Kent Police units stopped the BMW in Bromley and arrested all four men.
Drug dispute motive uncovered
Investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate uncovered that the group had returned to the area an hour before the attack, searching for the victims.
Evidence showed Grant called the woman, speaking aggressively to her during a phone call she did not recognise. It was at this moment Roach and Caparn approached and launched the assault.
Roach was positively identified as the attacker and charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. The others were also charged in connection with the attack.
Harsh sentences handed down
- Kevin Roach (40) was jailed for 27 years after being convicted of murder, unlawful wounding, and possession of a knife.
- Julian Grant (28) and Rodney Harris (38) were each sentenced to 20 and 18 years respectively for manslaughter and unlawful wounding.
- Alfie Caparn (18) received 18 years for manslaughter.
“This murder was fuelled by a dispute over the supply of drugs in Maidstone,” said Senior Investigating Officer DI Annie Clayton.
“These men travelled to Kent seeking retribution, leading to the needless death of Mr Adyinka and serious injury to a woman. They must now face lengthy prison sentences.”
“Kent Police will maintain a zero-tolerance stance on gang and drug-related crime and continue working with neighbouring forces to target offenders.”
