A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for murdering his Nigerian roommate in a “violent and unprovoked attack” in Norwich, United Kingdom.
In a report by BBC, sighted by our correspondent Online yesterday, Benjamin Katabana was convicted of murdering 33-year-old Uchenna Okirie, a former University of East Anglia economics student, after luring him into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation with WhatsApp messages.
The attack happened at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street, Norwich, on November 22.
According to Norfolk Constabulary, Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was using his phone when Katabana attacked him with a knife.
Katabana initially stabbed Okirie once before repeatedly attacking him and kicking him in the head while he lay on the floor.
Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am. A post-mortem examination found that he died from a stab wound to the chest.
CCTV footage captured the two men meeting in the corridor shortly before the attack.
After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers.
He reportedly told police: “I have killed someone, I think.”
The murder weapon was never recovered, while Katabana declined to explain his actions during police interviews, repeatedly responding “no comment”.
At Norwich Crown Court, Katabana had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but was subsequently convicted of murder by a jury.
Judge Bate sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.
The judge noted that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident in which he kicked someone in the head while they were lying on the floor following an assault.
“You act impulsively and resolve issues through violence,” the judge told him.
Katabana’s defence argued that his actions were linked to a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, the court heard that he had already armed himself with a knife before contacting Okirie and arranging to meet him.
Senior investigating officer Alix Wright of Norfolk Police described the killing as a deliberate attack.
“This was a violent and unprovoked attack,” Wright said.
“Benjamin Katabana deliberately lured Mr Okirie into the corridor through WhatsApp messages where he intended to meet him, having already armed himself with a knife.”
She added that the police’s thoughts remained with Okirie’s family and expressed hope that the conviction would provide them with “a measure of justice” for their loss.
Okirie, who was 33 at the time of his death, was a graduate of the University of East Anglia, where he studied economics.
The court heard that the attack took place inside the building where Okirie lived and that he was taken by surprise when Katabana confronted him.
Katabana was therefore, handed a life sentence and will serve at least 20 years in prison before he can be considered for release.
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