A murderer jailed for life after strangling a drunken friend in a fit of rage has died in prison.
Trevor Brazier was convicted of the murder of Kevin Trigdell in May 2019.
The then 49-year-old, of Northdown Avenue, Margate, was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to a minimum of 12 years and 213 days before being eligible to apply for bail.
Brazier, who had denied the offence, had claimed he had been acting in self-defence when he attacked Mr Trigdell in June 2018.
However, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has now announced he died at HMP Cookham Wood on June 17, aged 55.
Brazier had three times called the emergency services to rid himself of Trigdell, his house guest who had, in fact, been invited in.
But after quaffing cans of strong alcohol bought by the victim, Brazier turned nasty and ordered him out.
He then called police and paramedics to force him out into the street in the early hours – but they found him sleeping and posing no threat.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how three weeks before the brutal killing, Brazier had made murderous threats against the victim.
A woman cycling past, stopped and was so concerned, she recorded the threats on her mobile phone.
The court previously heard from the victim’s family who had revealed he was a fun-loving young man who teased his sister when they were picking winkles and devoted dad to his young child.
Sister Tanya said Kevin, who once lived in Canterbury, became homeless after the break up of his marriage.
Police video footage revealed Brazier telling police officers: “I’ve never killed someone before. Seriously I haven’t. I’m not joking. This is the first time.”
Mr Tridgell was discovered lying on a bed in Brazier’s home and died the following day in hospital due to injuries from strangulation.
HMP Cookham Wood, in Sir Evelyn Road, Rochester, was repurposed as an adult prison last year having originally been a young offenders’ institution.
