Man jailed for 'frenzied and cowardly' model murder

A "remorseless killer" who carried out a "frenzied and cowardly" attack on a model before trying to "paint himself as the Good Samaritan" who had come across an injured man lying in the street has been jailed for murder.

Luke Harden, 36, died on Newchurch Road in Bacup, Lancashire, shortly after midnight on 1 November.

Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, did not know his victim but both had attended a Halloween party at Rosemount Working Men's Club in the town that night.

At Preston Crown Court, Matabiswana, from Bacup, was jailed for life and told he must serve at least 16 years and six months.

At 23:46 GMT on 31 October, Matabiswana left the venue with his associates while Harden left using a different exit, police said.

CCTV footage captured the movements of both groups as they walked through various streets towards Newchurch Road.

Matabiswana's group was ahead of Harden, who was walking alone.

The killer, also known as Nick, and a woman he was with separated from their group on Clough Street at 23:51.

When they reached Newchurch Road at 23:58 there was an interaction with Harden.

A short time later, Harden was punched and then either kicked and/or stamped on by Matabiswana while he lay defenceless on the ground.

Harden had no defensive wounds on his hands or arms, and there were no marks on his hands to suggest he was the aggressor.

The attack must have been "so sudden, so quick, and so brutal", that Harden had no chance to defend himself, the trial heard.

Matabiswana did not call 999, the court heard, but used Harden's phone to look at his previous calls so he could call Harden's friends to tell them he was hurt.

At 00:06, a member of the public came on to Newchurch Road and saw Harden lying on the pavement and Matabiswana's friend kneeling next to him with his head in her hands.

Noticing Matabiswana was on the phone, he asked him numerous times if he had called for an ambulance but he did not reply.

The member of the public called for an ambulance himself and, along with Matabiswana's girlfriend, administered first aid to an unresponsive Harden.

Harden was pronounced dead at the scene at 01:17.

He suffered swelling to the brain and back of the head, extensive facial bruising with cuts to the left lower eyelid and to the lips, patterned bruising to the left cheek, fractures to his nose, jaw and larynx, and bruising to the neck, arms and shoulder.

It was later established he died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and neck following an assault.

The trial heard how Matabiswana, of St James Street, tried to flee the UK and was arrested at Manchester Airport two days after the attack.

Det Insp Pete MacDonald of Lancashire Police said: "Following a brief encounter with his victim, Matabiswana engaged in a frenzied and cowardly attack – continuing to attack Luke whilst he lay defenceless on the floor.

"He then made no effort to help Luke, instead choosing to contact his family and friends in a sordid and sinister bid to paint himself as the Good Samaritan who had simply come across an injured man on the pavement.

"He continued these callous lies to Luke's distressed friends and family, as their loved one lay dying on the ground yards away from them."

MacDonald said Matabiswana had shown "no remorse" and made several efforts to evade justice throughout the case - attempting to leave the scene before police arrived and then by booking a flight to Johannesburg.

"Thankfully he never made that flight," he said.

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