Breaking-Bad inspired murderer George Knights loses battle to appeal conviction for murder of Stephen Chapman
Published: 15:43, 31 July 2023
Updated: 20:19, 31 July 2023
Breaking Bad-inspired murderer George Knights has lost his battle to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Knights was jailed for life in January last year after killing Stephen Chapman and dumping his body in an acid-filled wheelie bin.
Aged 18 at the time of the killing, Knights, of Delce Road, Rochester stabbed dad-of-five Stephen Chapman after luring him to his home in October 2020.
He has subsequently applied to appeal against the conviction and sentence, but his application was turned down by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday July 19.
Previous hearings had outlined how Knights had been obsessed with American crime drama, Breaking Bad, and had turned his kitchen into a drugs factory to produce amphetamines.
Knights had met Stephen Chapman to discuss the sale of drugs, before plunging a knife into his victim's skull.
He then put Knights’ body in a wheelie bin which he carried up the road before dowsing it with acid - an incident which had been used in an episode from Breaking Bad.
The jury heard how Mr Chapman's body, disfigured by the acid, was discovered in the bin at Knights' home.
Knights denied murder but was found guilty after a jury at Maidstone Crown Court, and was told on sentencing that he would serve a minimum of 23 years before he could be considered for parole.
At the time of sentencing, Judge Statman told Knights: "During the trial I saw no remorse in you although there are some indications now you are having an understanding of the future."
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Chris Hunter