A drunk male model was beaten to death by a stranger in an attack “so sudden, so quick and so brutal” that he had no chance to defend himself, according to prosecutors.
Luke Harden, 36, had been at a Halloween party in Bacup, a small town in northwest England, when he was attacked by Bhekisani Matabiswana, a 26-year-old stranger leaving the same party, according to a court report by the BBC.
The model was drunk and appeared to have taken cocaine and ketamine — leaving him staggering down the street in “no condition to fight,” prosecutor Nicholas Rhodes told the jury.
Harden was seen just seconds before midnight as he drunkenly threw things in the street and exchanged words with Matabiswana’s girlfriend as she tried to get a taxi, the trial was told.
Matabiswana then beat Harden to the ground — and stamped and kicked his head, the jury was told.
The attack, which took less than a minute, was “so sudden, so quick, and so brutal” that Harden had no chance to defend himself, the jury was told.
Harden suffered catastrophic brain injuries, with a swollen skull, extensive facial bruising, fractured nose and jaw as well as bruised upper body — with the injuries so extensive it was impossible to work out exactly which wound killed him, the trial was told.
Matabiswana used Harden’s phone to contact his friends, and claimed Harden fell in front of him and couldn’t breathe, the trial heard.
However, the suspect had blood spattered on his clothing and injured knuckles from the brutal attack, prosecutors said.
Matabiswana also sent texts saying that he’d “beat someone up for trying to rape some girl” and that the man “died,” while also saying he might “make a run for it,” the trial heard.
The suspected murderer was busted days later as he headed to Manchester airport, seemingly planning to flee the country, the trial heard.
Matabiswana’s defense claims he acted in self-defense, alleging Harden had tried to grab his girlfriend. Prosecutors argue the victim was in no condition to pose a real threat.
Matabiswana has denied murder. His trial continues.
