Callous Killer George Knights Guilty of Murdering Stephen Chapman in Rochester
George Knights, 19, has been found guilty of brutally murdering Stephen Chapman in Rochester in October 2020. The teenager stuffed the 38-year-old victim’s body into a wheelie bin in a desperate bid to cover up the crime.
Knights, from Delce Road, Rochester, denied murder during his three-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court. But on Wednesday 9 June 2021, the jury found him guilty. Sentencing will be set at a later date.
Chilling Details Uncovered by Police
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate pieced together the horror. Stephen Chapman vanished after meeting Knights on the evening of Friday 23 October 2020 to discuss a sale. Phone records confirmed they arranged to meet. Chapman was never seen alive again.
When Chapman was reported missing the next day, police quickly zeroed in on Knights, who was one of the last people to speak to the victim. In phone calls with officers, Knights claimed he briefly met Chapman and collected the item but insisted he “would never hurt him”.
However, suspicion grew after Knights called police on Sunday reporting a break-in at his home. It turned out the visitors were friends of Chapman, worried about his disappearance. Police found Knights fleeing the scene.
Grim Discovery and Forensic Breakthroughs
- Officers uncovered blood-stained clothing, drugs, Chapman’s phone and bank card at Knights’ property.
- A wheelie bin belonging to another address was found in the conservatory with Chapman’s body inside.
- Four empty bottles of sulphuric acid were discovered nearby, hinting at an attempt to destroy evidence.
Thanks to advanced forensic technology, detectives conducted a thorough post-mortem despite Knights’ attempts to erase the crime.
CCTV captured Knights dragging the wheelie bin from Foord Street back to his home on the deadly night. Other footage showed him visiting an associate’s house shortly after the murder.
Disturbingly, a video on Knights’ phone showed him at a party boasting about killing someone, with cocaine visible in the background. He had also recently tattooed a snake wrapped around a knife on his neck — eerily similar to the murder weapon.
Detective Calls Knights a “Callous Killer”
Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss said: “Knights is a callous killer who has robbed Stephen Chapman of his life and deprived his loved ones of a future with him.”
“His appalling disregard for life and his attempts to dispose of the body denied the family a chance to say goodbye.”
“Knights’ lack of remorse is clear from attending a party shortly after the murder and making the victim’s family endure a painful trial.”
“He is a clear danger to the public. We are relieved this investigation has brought him to justice.”
“Nothing can undo the harm caused, but I hope this verdict offers some solace to Mr Chapman’s family.”
