Mateus Johannes, 29, gets life for murdering Claudia Kambanza in Hull. Jealousy fueled the attack.
Mateus Johannes, 29, attacked Claudia Kambanza last January out of jealousy and anger. He stabbed her twice, the knife breaking in her chest during the early hours. He chased her down the street.
Johannes admitted to both the murder and possessing a knife. He must serve at least 23 years before applying for parole. He will receive credit for time served, leaving roughly 22 years. As he left court, he said “Sorry” and waved at her family.
The couple was from Namibia. She called him “MJ,” and once called him “cupcake,” trusting him completely. Johannes secretly checked her phone, seeking proof of cheating. He filmed videos, vowing revenge and calling women trash.
Last January, they argued, and she blocked his number. He traveled from Peterborough to Hull, arriving at her house early. He went inside, and she heard him downstairs before they went to her room. He attacked her, causing injuries, and she ran outside screaming.
He chased and caught her, demanding the name of another man. He hit her and stabbed her. She fell, and he stamped on her before running away. People found her bloody, with wounds in her chest and stomach.
The knife handle broke off, and one wound was very deep. She attempted to remove the blade, but someone told her not to. He briefly returned, then left for good. Later, he confessed to a friend, and also told the police about the stabbing.
The knife remained in her chest as she kept saying his birth year. She could say her name, but struggled to breathe. She had surgery, but her abdomen filled with blood. They removed the knife and gave her blood transfusions, but she died.
Initially, he said nothing to police. Later, he blamed her messages and claimed voices told him to kill her. He had no psychiatric defense. Prosecutors argued he planned the attack, having broken into her phone account and wanting her to pay for imagined cheating. His only prior crime was fare evasion.
His lawyer apologized on his behalf, reading from his letter in which he wrote that he was sorry and imagined their pain. The lawyer said it happened suddenly, but the attack continued outside. The judge described it as appalling violence stemming from misguided jealousy.
She studied at Hull College, and her mom called her kind and dependable. She wanted to be an accountant. Her death brought terrible pain and her family faces endless grief. She did not know he was coming, and he suspected she was unfaithful, though the judge said he was wrong.
She had the right to end the relationship, free from violence. He shouted “Tell me his name,” then hit and stabbed her. The force broke the knife. He left her to die in pain, and the medics could not save her. He intended to kill her.
