Man jailed for life for murder in accommodation

A man has been jailed for a minimum term of 20 years for murdering a fellow resident of his shared accommodation after "luring" him into the communal corridor.

Uchenna Okirie, 33, was left for dead, face down on the floor, after what police described as a "sustained and brutal attack" with a knife at Somerleyton House in Norwich on 22 November.

Despite efforts to save him, Okirie died at the scene at the same time as Benjamin Katabana, 28, handed himself into police saying: "I have killed someone, I think."

At Norwich Crown Court, Judge Bate passed a life sentenced and said Katabana had acted impulsively and resolved issues "through violence".

Katabana had pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility, but was convicted of murder by a jury at Norwich Crown Court.

CCTV had captured the two men coming together in the corridor of the building on Somerleyton Street.

Okirie, a University of East Anglia economics graduate, appeared to be using his phone when Katabana attacked him, police said.

Having stabbed Okirie once, Katabana went on to attack him multiple times and kick him in the head – a violent loss of control his defence told the court was due to his traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Katabana then activated the fire alarm at the multi-occupancy residence and made his way through the city to Bethel Street Police Station, where he handed himself in and was arrested.

Okirie, who was known as Uche, was pronounced dead shortly after 06:00 GMT. The cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

The knife was never recovered, police said, and Katabana gave no account for his actions, answering "no comment" in interviews.

Bate said that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences including kicking someone in the head whilst they were on the floor after an assault.

He said the attack happened in a building that was the victim's home and he was "taken by surprise".

"You act impulsively and resolve issues through violence," Bate said.

When speaking after the verdict, senior investigating officer Alix Wright from Norfolk Police said: "This was a violent and unprovoked attack.

"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.

"Our thoughts remain with Uche's family, and we hope this conviction provides them with a measure of justice for their loss."

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