Vitalie Tanga, a drunk man, has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering Alfred Mattox in his home during VE Day celebrations. Tanga brutally beat Mattox, a carer, to death in a vodka-fueled rage because he was gay. Tanga claimed Mattox made a pass at him, leading to the fatal attack. The court heard that Tanga’s violent assault on Mattox was motivated by his hostility towards the victim’s sexual orientation. Tanga was convicted of murder and assault and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.
The trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court revealed the events leading up to the attack on Mattox, who was celebrating VE Day with friends. Tanga joined the group in the celebrations but later launched a brutal attack on Mattox in his own home. Neighbors heard banging noises and called the police, who found Mattox unconscious with extensive facial fractures and brain damage. He died from his injuries a fortnight later. Tanga attempted to flee the scene and prevented officers from entering the flat for seven minutes. The court was told of Tanga’s previous convictions for violence and his history of a psychotic condition, possibly paranoid schizophrenia.
The judge, Michael Chambers, described Tanga’s attack on Mattox as brutal and sustained, leading to the victim’s death. The court heard that Tanga’s hostility towards Mattox’s sexual orientation was the main motivation for the violence. Tanga’s defense claimed that Mattox had made a sexual advance towards him, triggering an exaggerated response from the intoxicated killer. The defense insisted that Tanga was not homophobic and had known Mattox for years without any issues. However, the judge ruled that Tanga’s actions were clearly driven by his hostility towards Mattox’s sexual orientation, leading to the violent assault.
Tanga’s second victim, Mattox’s lodger, sustained injuries as a result of the attack but made a full recovery. The court heard that Tanga’s crime was not premeditated but rather an intention to cause serious bodily harm. The prosecutor highlighted the aggravated nature of the killing due to Tanga’s hostility towards Mattox’s sexual orientation. Tanga’s attempt to show that he was a man by violently attacking Mattox was deemed a senseless and fatal reaction to an unwanted sexual advance. The court also noted Tanga’s attempts to obstruct police and his history of violent behavior.
In sentencing Tanga to life in prison, the judge emphasized the extreme violence unleashed by the killer on Mattox and the aggravating factor of Tanga’s hostility towards the victim’s sexual orientation. Tanga was given a minimum term of 25 years before being eligible for parole. The court heard that Mattox’s friends and family were left devastated by his senseless killing and the loss of a gentle soul. The emotional impact of the murder was felt by all those who knew Mattox, leading to a significant outpouring of support and tributes for the victim. The court’s decision to hand Tanga a life sentence reflects the severity of his crime and the consequences of his violent actions.
