‎UK Court Jails Congolese Man for Life Over Killing of Nigerian Roommate

A 28-year-old Congolese man, Benjamin Katabana, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his Nigerian roommate, Uchenna Okirie, in Norwich, United Kingdom.

Katabana was convicted of murdering 33-year-old Okirie, a former economics student of the University of East Anglia, following what police described as a violent and unprovoked attack.

‎According to the ruling, Katabana lured Okirie into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation on Somerleyton Street through WhatsApp messages before attacking him with a knife.

‎The incident occurred at Somerleyton House on November 22. Police said Okirie was using his phone when Katabana confronted and stabbed him before repeatedly attacking and kicking him in the head as he lay on the floor.

Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am. A post-mortem examination established that he died from a stab wound to the chest.

‎CCTV footage captured the two men meeting in the corridor shortly before the attack.

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‎After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm before walking to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered and reportedly told officers, “I have killed someone, I think.”

‎The murder weapon was not recovered, while Katabana repeatedly responded “no comment” during police interviews.

‎At Norwich Crown Court, Katabana initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. However, a jury subsequently convicted him of murder.

‎In sentencing, Judge Bate ordered Katabana to serve a minimum of 20 years in prison before he can be considered for release.

‎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 the victim was lying on the floor.

The judge told Katabana that he acted impulsively and resorted to violence to resolve conflicts.

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‎His defence argued that his actions were linked to a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the court heard that he had 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.

‎BBC and Punch report that she said Katabana had deliberately lured Okirie into the corridor through WhatsApp messages after arming himself with a knife.

‎Okirie, who was 33 when he was killed, was a graduate of the University of East Anglia, where he studied economics.