Gabriel Brown has received a life sentence following the violent killing of Joseph Ernest Johnston, the former partner of Brown's stepmother. The case drew significant attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime, which included the perpetrator consuming a portion of the victim's finger.

During legal proceedings, Brown offered a defense based on his mental state at the time of the offense. He asserted that he was possessed by the spirit of the 19th-century occultist Aleister Crowley when he carried out the assault. The court ultimately rejected these claims, leading to his conviction and subsequent life sentence. While the BBC report focuses on the specific details of the murder and the defendant's occult-related claims, it provides limited information regarding the victim's background or the specific duration of the minimum term Brown must serve before becoming eligible for parole.