Prison officers entered the cell to find Stefan Adi suffering catastrophic injuries to his head and neck – a scene described by Detective Inspector Ross Gurden as “an unimaginable scene of savagery and cruelty”
A prisoner who murdered a fellow inmate in a brutal attack at HMP Maidstone using a broken chair and the shattered remains of a ceramic toilet lid has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to Kent Police the brutal incident happened on December 9 2021 when Sasan Rabat attacked Stefan Adi in his own cell leaving him suffering catastrophic injuries to his head and neck. When staff entered the cell they found Rabat sitting on a bed and Stefan Adi was lying fatally wounded in a corner of the room.
The murder scene has since been described by Detective Inspector Ross Gurden as “an unimaginable scene of savagery and cruelty.”
Rabat had used furniture including a locker and a table in attempts to conceal Mr Adi’s body and covered him in blankets and towels. The 24 year old had suffered multiple puncture wounds and lacerations to this throat, as well as significant injuries to his head. Injuries which DI Gurden admitted “he simply had no chance of surviving”.
Prison officers recovered a chair from the cell, which had been broken, as well as the shattered remains of a ceramic toilet lid, both had been used to inflict injuries on Mr Adi. Despite the best efforts of staff Mr Adi was confirmed deceased at the scene.
Rabat was arrested and stated in police interviews he had acted in self-defence, claiming Mr Adi had entered his cell and threatened him with a razor blade. He was charged with murder and remanded in custody, pending a trial.
At Maidstone Crown Court, Rabat, now 27, admitted killing Mr Adi but argued a defence of diminished responsibility. A jury found him guilty of murder by unanimous verdict. On 12 March 2025, Judge Philip Statman told the court Rabat had improvised two weapons in a case which involved an ‘extreme level of violence’ and which had deprived two young children of their father.
Sentencing him to life, Judge Statman ordered Rabat serve a minimum of 19 years in prison before he can be considered for parole.
Detective Inspector Ross Gurden said: “The actions of Rabat were truly barbaric as he subjected his helpless victim to a prolonged and brutal ordeal. Mr Adi suffered up to 30 horrific injuries, including to his head, face and neck, which he simply had no chance of surviving.
“Rabat has never shown any remorse for his senseless attack, which has not only caused immense distress and suffering to his victim’s family but continues to have a profound and lasting impact on staff at the prison faced with an unimaginable scene of savagery and cruelty.”
HM Prison Maidstone in Kent, England is a category C men’s prison. Category C prisons focus on training and resettling prisoners. The prison has a capacity of around 600 in a mixture of single and shared cells. There are four main residential house blocks and one segregation unit.
