A 33-year-old Nigerian, Uchenna Okirie, has been murdered by his roommate in a violent and unprovoked attack in Norwich, United Kingdom, with his killer sentenced to life imprisonment.
Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was a graduate of the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he studied Economics. He was killed on November 22 at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street, Norwich.
His 28-year-old roommate, Benjamin Katabana, was convicted of murder at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years. According to the BBC and Norfolk Constabulary, Katabana used WhatsApp messages to lure Okirie into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation, where he attacked him with a knife.
Okirie was reportedly using his phone when Katabana initially stabbed him once before repeatedly attacking him and kicking him in the head while he lay on the floor. He 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. After killing Okirie, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers. He reportedly told police: “I have killed someone, I think.”
The murder weapon was never recovered, while Katabana declined to explain his actions during police interviews, repeatedly responding “no comment”.
At the trial, Katabana had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but was subsequently convicted of murder by a jury. The court heard that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident in which he kicked someone in the head while the victim was lying on the floor following an assault.
Sentencing him, Judge Bate said Katabana acted impulsively and used violence to resolve issues. Katabana’s 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. “This was a violent and unprovoked attack,” Wright said, adding that Katabana deliberately lured Okirie into the corridor through WhatsApp messages after arming himself with a knife.
Wright expressed sympathy for Okirie’s family, saying police hoped the conviction would provide them with “a measure of justice” for their loss.
Okirie, who was 33 when he was killed, had lived in the building where the attack occurred and was reportedly taken by surprise when Katabana confronted him. Katabana will serve at least 20 years in prison before he can be considered for release.
