NORWICH, United Kingdom — A 28-year-old Congolese national, Benjamin Katabana, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the brutal murder of his Nigerian roommate in Norwich.
The tragic incident occurred on November 22 at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street, where the victim, 33-year-old Uchenna Okirie, was ambushed. Okirie, affectionately known as Uche, was a former economics student at the University of East Anglia.
According to reports from the Norfolk Constabulary, Katabana meticulously planned the assault by using WhatsApp messages to lure Okirie into the building’s communal corridor. Armed with a knife, Katabana launched a sudden, unprovoked attack, stabbing the victim in the chest before repeatedly kicking him in the head as he lay defenseless on the floor.
Emergency responders pronounced Okirie dead at the scene shortly after 6:00 AM, with a subsequent post-mortem confirming a fatal stab wound to the chest.
Following the attack, Katabana triggered the building’s fire alarm and walked directly to the Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to authorities, stating he believed he had killed someone. The murder weapon was never recovered, and Katabana maintained a “no comment” stance throughout police interrogations.
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During proceedings at Norwich Crown Court, the defense argued that Katabana’s actions stemmed from a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, entering a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. However, a jury rejected the defense and convicted him of murder.
Judge Bate handed down the life sentence, highlighting Katabana’s history of violence, which included five previous convictions for seven offenses. Senior investigating officer Alix Wright of Norfolk Police condemned the act as a deliberate and violent ambush, expressing hope that the verdict brings a measure of closure and justice to the grieving family of the late Nigerian scholar.
