Police commended for work on student murder case

Kwabena Osei-Poku was fatally stabbed in April

Nine police officers have been commended for investigating the murder of a 19-year-old undergraduate near the University of Northampton.

Kwabena Osei-Poku, from Peterborough, was stabbed by Melvin Lebaga-Idubor, 20, from Barking in east London, in a drugs dispute on 23 April 2023.

Following a six-week trial at Northampton Crown Court, which ended in November last year, Lebaga-Idubor was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years.

Last week, the presiding Judge Herbert formally commended officers in the investigation team for their work on the case.

Mr Osei-Poku, known as Alfred, was found with serious stab wounds in New South Bridge Road near the university's Waterside Campus.

He died at the scene.

Following the case, Judge Herbert commented on the complex nature of the investigation and how well it had been presented to the court.

He recognised the long hours and expertise that went into investigating and presenting the evidence.

Nine Northamptonshire Police officers and staff were commended:

• Det Insp Simon Barnes: Senior investigating officer

• Det Sgt Matt Bly: Deputy senior investigating officer

• Det Con Mark Allbright: Officer in the case

• Det Con Lee Chennell: Family liaison officer

• Police Sgt Lorna Clarke: University policing team

• Jeff Winfield: Receiver

• Hannah White: Analyst

• Det Con Simon Chamberlain: Digital media investigator

• Linda Gibb: Digital field extraction technician

Mr Lebaga-Idubor, from Barking in east London, stabbed Mr Osei-Poku (pictured) "not once but twice", with the fatal injury being a "stab wound to the neck"

Det Ch Supt Rich Tompkins said: “The work that went into this investigation was tireless, diligent, caring and extremely complex, so I am really pleased to see the team formally commended by His Honour Judge Herbert KC.

“Though no sentence could ever make up for the loss of Kwabena, we were able to get justice for him and his family, and that’s down to this fantastic team of police officers and police staff.”