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

Katabana was convicted of murdering 33-year-old Okirie, a former economics student at the University of East Anglia, following an attack at their shared accommodation on November 22.

According to Norfolk Constabulary, Katabana contacted Okirie through WhatsApp and lured him into a communal corridor, where he attacked him. Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am.

A post-mortem examination established that Okirie died from a stab wound to the chest. CCTV footage also captured the two men meeting in the corridor shortly before the attack.

After the incident, Katabana activated the building's fire alarm and walked to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers. He reportedly told police that he believed he had killed someone.

The murder weapon was not recovered, while Katabana declined to explain his actions 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.

The court heard that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident involving violence against another person.

Judge Bate said Katabana had a history of resolving disputes through violence and sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 20 years before he can be considered for release.

Katabana's defence argued that his actions were connected to a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the court heard that he had armed himself before contacting Okirie and arranging their meeting.

Senior investigating officer Alix Wright described the killing as a deliberate and unprovoked attack, saying the conviction could provide Okirie's family with some measure of justice.

Okirie was 33 when he died and had studied economics at the University of East Anglia.