A man, described as a heartless killer in a clown costume following a Halloween event, brutally attacked a male model in a vicious assault, later attempting to portray himself as a Good Samaritan. The victim, Luke Harden, 36, tragically lost his life after being subjected to a violent onslaught of punches, kicks, and stamps, resulting in severe injuries to his head, face, and neck.
During the trial, Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, from Zimbabwe, initially claimed to have discovered Luke in a collapsed state and tried to render aid. However, he later confessed in court to having misled emergency services, admitting to punching Luke multiple times but denying the additional acts of violence. Despite his denial of murder charges, Matabiswana was ultimately convicted by a jury at Preston Crown Court.
Leading up to the incident, Luke and Matabiswana coincidentally attended the same Halloween party at Rosemount Working Men’s Club in Bacup, Lancashire. Surveillance footage captured their movements, showing Matabiswana and his group leaving shortly before midnight, while Luke exited through a different route, walking alone.
Subsequent footage revealed an encounter between Matabiswana and Luke, leading to a violent altercation where Matabiswana allegedly attacked Luke while he lay defenseless on the ground. Instead of seeking help, Matabiswana misleadingly contacted Luke’s friends and family, attempting to distort the narrative in his favor.
Following Luke’s tragic death at the scene, Matabiswana and his partner were arrested on suspicion of murder. Despite Matabiswana’s claims of self-defense, further evidence, including text messages on his phone indicating intentions to flee the country, painted a damning picture of his culpability.
Detective Inspector Pete MacDonald expressed dismay at Matabiswana’s lack of remorse and evasive actions, commending the jury for holding him accountable for Luke’s murder. Matabiswana’s callous behavior and attempts to evade justice were highlighted, ultimately leading to his guilty verdict.