Bhekisani Matabiswana: Sentenced to Life for Fatal Assault in Bacup

A man who carried out a fatal assault on a model in Lancashire has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years and six months.

Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, of St James Street, Bacup, was convicted of the murder of 36-year-old Luke Harden following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

The incident occurred on Newchurch Road, Bacup, shortly after midnight on 1 November 2025.

The court heard that the defendant and the victim, who were strangers, had both attended a Halloween event at the Rosemount Working Men's Club earlier that evening.

Prosecution evidence established that the defendant left the venue at 23:46, followed by the victim who departed via a separate exit.

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CCTV footage tracked the groups as they travelled towards Newchurch Road, where an interaction occurred between the men at 23:58.

The court was told that Matabiswana punched the victim before subjecting him to a series of kicks and stamps while the victim was defenceless on the ground.

Forensic pathology confirmed the victim died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

Injuries sustained included brain swelling, extensive facial bruising, fractures to the jaw, nose, and larynx, and internal neck trauma.

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Evidence presented during the trial noted an absence of defensive wounds on the victim’s hands or arms, indicating the assault was sudden and incapacitating.

Following the attack, the defendant did not contact emergency services but instead accessed the victim's mobile phone to contact his associates, claiming to have discovered an injured man.

A passing member of the public intervened at 00:06 and requested the defendant call an ambulance, a request the defendant reportedly ignored.

The passer-by subsequently contacted emergency services and performed first aid, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 01:17.

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The defendant was apprehended by police at Manchester Airport two days later while attempting to board a flight to Johannesburg.

Detective Inspector Pete MacDonald described the attack as frenzied and cowardly, noting that the defendant showed no remorse during the investigation.

The presiding judge determined the minimum term of 16 years and six months to be served before the defendant is eligible to apply for parole.

The investigation concluded that the defendant’s attempts to fabricate a narrative as a Good Samaritan were a calculated bid to evade justice following the lethal violence.

The sentencing marks the formal disposal of the criminal case against the defendant.