A man who deceitfully portrayed himself as a helpful individual following the murder of a model has received a life sentence in prison.

Bhekisani Matabiswana, aged 27, fatally attacked 36-year-old Luke Harden after they met for the first time at a Halloween party in Stacksteads, Lancashire. Harden passed away on Newchurch Road in Bacup, Lancashire, on November 1, shortly after midnight.

Matabiswana was apprehended at Manchester Airport two days later while attempting to escape to South Africa. Despite denying the murder charge, he was convicted at Preston Crown Court and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and six months.

During the trial, it was revealed that Harden, an employee of Nemesis Model Agency in Manchester, was scheduled to DJ at the Halloween event. Matabiswana, present at the same gathering with his friends, launched a vicious assault on Harden as he lay defenseless on the ground after leaving the venue.

Instead of seeking help, Matabiswana used Harden’s phone to inform his family and friends about the injured victim, in what was described by Lancashire Police as an attempt to falsely present himself as a Good Samaritan. The attack on Harden was swift and brutal, leaving him with fatal injuries before he passed away due to blunt force trauma.

In impact statements, Harden’s loved ones described him as a kind-hearted individual, with his girlfriend expressing the devastating impact the loss had on her mental health. Harden’s mother also shared the profound emotional distress caused by the tragic incident, emphasizing the enduring pain and trauma inflicted by the perpetrator.

The senseless act of violence has left Harden’s family and friends shattered, forever impacted by the tragic loss of a beloved individual.