A 28-year-old Congolese man, Benjamin Katabana, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his Nigerian roommate, 33-year-old Uchenna Okirie, in Norwich, United Kingdom.
Katabana was handed a minimum prison term of 20 years after being convicted of murder at Norwich Crown Court.
According to a BBC report cited by PUNCH, Katabana lured Okirie into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street on November 22 using WhatsApp messages.
Police said Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was using his phone when Katabana attacked him with a knife. He was initially stabbed once before being repeatedly attacked and kicked in the head while lying on the floor.
Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that he died from a stab wound to the chest.
CCTV footage captured the two men meeting in the corridor shortly before the attack.
Following 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. During police interviews, Katabana repeatedly responded, “no comment,” and declined to explain his actions.
He initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but a jury later found him guilty of murder.
The court heard that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident in which he kicked a person in the head while they were lying on the ground.
The judge told Katabana that he acted impulsively and used violence to resolve conflicts.
His defence argued that his behaviour was connected to a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, prosecutors told the court that he had already armed himself with a knife before contacting Okirie and arranging the meeting.
Senior investigating officer Alix Wright of Norfolk Police described the incident as a deliberate and unprovoked attack.
Okirie was a graduate of the University of East Anglia, where he studied economics.
Katabana will serve at least 20 years in prison before he can be considered for release.
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