Court

Killer Joram Bakumanya Jailed For Life Over Murder of Hero Chef
Weds 19th April 2017, Yellow Advertiser

A MURDERER has been given a life sentence for stabbing to death a local hero in Basildon town centre.

Joram Bakumanya was told he will serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars for the murder of Daniel Mitchell-Monroe.

Spectators at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning heard Bakumanya had a history of violent crime, with convictions for robberies, inflicting ABH and possession of a knife.

A trial heard late last year how Mr Mitchell-Monroe – a 37-year-old chef at the The Crown in High Road, Langdon Hills – was killed as he protected his 22-year-old niece from Bakumanya in Market Pavement on June 28, 2016.

Bakumanya had pursued the young woman through the town centre, shouting at her that she should show him ‘respect’ after she refused to give him her phone number.

One witness heard him shouting threats at the woman, telling her: “I’m a dangerous man. Do not smile when you see me.”

Another heard him say: “I’ve hurt women before and I will hurt you now.”

Mr Mitchell-Monroe had gone into town with his niece but was at the barbers while she was shopping. She called him for help when Bakumanya started pursuing her.

The court heard how he ran to the scene and jumped between them and punched Bakumanya.

Bakumanya retaliated by attacking Mr Mitchell-Monroe and knocking him to the ground. He then pulled a large kitchen knife from his trousers and stabbed him three times.

The first wound went through Mr Mitchell-Monroe’s arm, the second entered his abdomen and damaged vital organs, and the third cut his aorta - his main artery.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told jurors: "In other words, say the prosecution, he despatched Mr Mitchell-Monroe with considerable efficiency. He would have died within a few short minutes of those wounds being inflicted."

Bakumanya fled, dumping the knife and his shirt, but was quickly apprehended by police.

The killer sacked his defence team on the morning of his trial and represented himself.

He claimed self-defence – but Mr Jackson revealed the claim contradicted what Bakumanya had told police in interview.

The killer had originally told cops that he knew Mr Mitchell-Monroe had just been protecting his niece and he had killed him ’for no reason’.

Mr Jackson said: "He told the police that he had made a rash decision. He said that he had not intended to kill. He went on to say that Mr Mitchell-Monroe was a saint and did not deserve what had happened to him."

At trial Bakumanya claimed he had been kidnapped and almost raped in south London in the days before the stabbing, in a totally unrelated incident. He said being blanked by Mr Mitchell-Monroe’s niece had ‘stirred up negative emotions’ caused by the earlier incident.

Speaking in his own defence at today’s sentencing hearing, he said: “The events leading up to what happened played on my mind and all I was trying to do was defend myself. I do not really know what else to say apart from that I am sorry.”

Sentencing Bakumanya, Judge Patricia Lynch said: “You are now 23 years of age and you were found guilty of murder by the jury of Daniel Mitchell-Monroe, who was a man who was much-loved by his family and his friends and who did nothing at all to cause you to act in the way you did.”

To Mr Mitchell-Monroe’s family, she said: “Nothing I say or do can make your lives any better. Until people have been in the position you have been and have lost a loved one they cannot begin to understand the pain and suffering. I thank you for your dignity in this court and the way you all conducted yourselves from beginning to end through the proceedings.”

*Additional reporting by Michael Cox.

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