LONDON — A UK court has sentenced a 28-year-old Congolese man to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his Nigerian roommate in a “violent and unprovoked attack” in Norwich .
CDA News Nigeria gathered that 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 on November 22 . Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was using his phone when Katabana attacked him with a knife .
CDA News Nigeria reports that according to Norfolk Constabulary, 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 6 am, with a post-mortem examination revealing he died from a stab wound to the chest .
After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers, reportedly telling police: “I have killed someone, I think.” The murder weapon was never recovered, and Katabana repeatedly responded “no comment” during police interviews .
At Norwich Crown Court, Katabana had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility but was convicted of murder by a jury . Judge Bate sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years, noting that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident of kicking someone in the head during an assault .
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