Canterbury: Life sentence for man who murdered homeless man

Sobantu Sibanda (left) attacked the victim repeatedly, while Keith Hall helped cover up the killing

A man has been given a life sentence for beating a homeless man to death in a "vicious attack".

Sobantu Sibanda, aged 28 and of no fixed address, was jailed for a minimum of 19 years at Canterbury Crown Court.

The man he murdered, 51-year-old Guy Malbec, had been staying in a tent in a car park in Castle Street, Canterbury, where the attack happened.

Three men who helped cover up the crime received jail sentences of between 24 and 40 months.

The body of Mr Malbec was found inside a sleeping bag in the tent on the car park's lower ground floor. A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died from blunt-force trauma injuries to his head, face and torso.

Sibanda was identified on CCTV carrying out a series of assaults on Mr Malbec over a period of more than an hour.

Mr Malbec was beaten with his own possessions, including a laptop and a wooden gavel.

During the trial, Sibanda said he believed the Mr Malbec had stolen drugs from his tent.

Gavin Houghton (left) and Airidas Sakalauskas (right) helped cover up the attack

Sibanda and three other men, Keith Hall, Gavin Houghton and Airidas Sakalauskas, were witnessed at the scene during the attack, searching the victim's property.

Personal items belonging to Mr Malbec were destroyed and other items were taken, including his phone, meaning he could not call 999.

Assisted by Houghton and Sakalauskas, Sibanda returned to the scene during the day, when they removed the victim's tent, bloodstained items and cleared the area. Mr Malbec's body was left in Sibanda's tent.

Hall then deleted messages shared with the others about the attack and clear-up.

Police were called to Castle Street car park on 10 April, where Mr Malbec's body was found

In court, all four men admitted perverting the course of justice.

Sibanda entered a manslaughter plea but was found guilty of murder on Wednesday.

For their part in perverting the course of justice, Houghton and Sakalauskas were each sentenced to three years and four months, while Hall was jailed for two years.

Det Ch Insp Kathleen Way of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said Mr Malbec "was vulnerable and had no way to defend himself when he was subjected to such a vicious attack".

She added: "Sibanda left him to die and disposed of his property, giving no thought to his victim until he was later arrested. He acted callously and without remorse."

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