Trevor Cowan

Trevor Cowan died following a burglary at a flat he had been at in Parsonage Road, Grays.

However, it was later said that his death was not suspicious.

Seven people had been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

The police said that they had determined that he had been assaulted five days before he died.

Following his death, the police carried out simultaneous raids at addresses in Tilbury, Grays, and Dagenham, using over 40 police officers, arresting five people.

Severn people were later charged with murder, aggravated burglary and assault by beating. They were:

1. Man, 38, of Leighton Gardens, Basildon, (convicted of aggravated burglary).
2. Man, 34, of Raphael Avenue, Tilbury, (no evidence, not guilty).
3. Man, 29, of Rainham Road South, Dagenham, (not guilty).
4. Man, 20 of Leighton Gardens, Tilbury, (convicted of aggravated burglary).
5. Man, 27, of Salisbury Road, Grays, (convicted of aggravated burglary).
6. Man, 28, of Townmead Road, London, (convicted of aggravated burglary).
7. Man, 46, of Crow Lane, Romford, (no evidence, not guilty).

They were said to have raided the flat armed with a revving chainsaw, a baseball bat and knives and attacked Trevor Cowan and two other people on 12 April 2019, demanding money and drugs.

The raid took place on  12 April and Trevor Cowan died on 18 April 2019 at hospital after falling ill that day. However, after charging the men with murder the police later said that his death was not suspicious.

It was heard that the group had gone to the flats intending to target some other people there, but although realising the people they were looking for were not there they attacked Trevor Cowan and the two other people anyway and then left with nothing.

The police said, 'This was a violent break-in where the victims were subjected to intimidation, threats, and assaults. This was clearly a planned and pre-meditated burglary by a group intent on terrorising those inside the flat'.