Student sentenced to life in prison after stabbing another student to death at a uni campus

A Northampton student has been jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years after stabbing another student to death outside the university campus in April 2023.

On the 23rd April 2023, Melvin Lebaga-Idubor stabbed 19-year-old student Kwabena Osei-Poku, also known as Alfred, to death.

Police were called to an incident at around 8:40pm on the university campus in the East Midlands but tragically, the advertising and digital marketing student was pronounced dead at the scene.

Melvin Lebaga-Idubor stabbed Kwabena Osei-Poku “not once but twice”, the court heard, with the fatal injury being a “stab wound to the neck”.

Lebaga-Idubor had also earlier threatened Oseu-Poku in an on-campus kitchen when he also stole a bag of weed worth around £1,000.

The killing happened after Lebaga-Idubor decided to warn Osei-Poku against dealing drugs on campus, the judge said, telling the court: “You made it clear he was selling drugs on what you considered to be your territory.”

He stabbed the student outside the campus where he thought there would be no CCTV cameras. “You wanted the confrontation to continue in a place where you thought there would be no witnesses and no CCYV coverage of what took place,” the judge said.

Kwabena’s mother, Joyce Osei-Poku, described her son as “my baby, my precious…my best friend”. In her victim statement, she said: “Alfred was such a loving soul. My first true love.”

She said that, when he died, “my heart was ripped from inside of me”.

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His brother Aaron described Mr Osei-Poku as a “cool and amazing person”. He said: “Alfred was the definition of a perfect older brother. He would do anything to keep us safe. I would cling to him like he was my parent. Alfred was the person who brought us all together.

“He was a third parent and will never be replaced. I’m not sure we will ever get over the loss of Alfred.”

Kwabena Osei-Poku was fatally stabbed on The University of Northampton campus

During sentencing, Judge David Herbert told Lebaga-Idubor: “You were aggressive and snatched the bag of drugs. I am not sure you intended to kill him, however, you intended really serious injury at least.”

The judge said this was “sadly another case highlighting the dangers of young people who are prepared to carry a knife in public. Anyone who does so stands only a short step from murder”.

Lebago-Idubor, who has now been sentenced to life in prison, was also arrested outside Mango nightclub in Birmingham six months before the murder.

He told Lebaga-Idubor: “Kwabena, or Alfred as he was known, was a young man with many positive qualities who had his whole life ahead of him. He was a loving son and a loving elder brother who brought joy to all his family.

“I recognise that no sentence I pass will reduce the grief and loss that his family will continue to feel for the rest of their lives.”

The university student has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder.

Via SWNS

Speaking at the time, the University of Northampton Vice Chancellor said staff had been left “heartbroken” by the student’s “senseless” death. She said: “We are heartbroken at the senseless death of Kwabena Osei-Poku – known affectionately as Alfred.

“I have heard from Alfred’s advertising and digital marketing foundation tutors, who tell me he was working on a project investigating the growth of technological tools used in marketing, and was on the route to succeed in his studies.

“His fellow students and all staff at the University of Northampton are devastated by this news, and once again extend our deepest sympathies to his friends, family and all those who knew him. We will now focus on support for the University community as we try to deal with this tragic loss of life.”

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Featured image via Northamptonshire Police.