{"id":2101,"date":"2026-05-14T13:09:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/halloween-killer-dressed-as-clown-carried-out-frenzied-and-cowardly-attack-on-male-model\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T13:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:09:54","slug":"halloween-killer-dressed-as-clown-carried-out-frenzied-and-cowardly-attack-on-male-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/halloween-killer-dressed-as-clown-carried-out-frenzied-and-cowardly-attack-on-male-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Halloween killer dressed as clown carried out &#8216;frenzied and cowardly&#8217; attack on male model"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_184259\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Male model Luke Harden, 36, died after being punched, kicked and stamped on in the street by Bhekisani Matabiswana who claimed to be Good Samaritan<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37155631\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Luke Harden sitting in a three-piece suit\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Man-found-guilty-of-murdering-Luke-Harden-in-Rossendale.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Luke Harden, 36, died after being punched, kicked and stamped on\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Luke Harden, 36, died after being punched, kicked and stamped on<cite aria-label=\"Image: Nemesis Model Agency \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Nemesis Model Agency \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A \u201cremorseless killer\u201d dressed as a clown after attending a Halloween party carried out a \u201cfrenzied and cowardly attack\u201d on a male model before \u201ctrying to paint himself as the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/nathan-gothard-manslaughter-david-darke-37127049\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Good Samaritan<\/a>\u201d.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Luke Harden, 36, died after being <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/crime\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">punched, kicked and stamped<\/a> on in the street, suffering catastrophic injuries to his head, face, and neck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A court heard Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, claimed he had found Luke collapsed and had tried to save his life by attempting first aid. But in court Matabiswana, originally from Zimbabwe, admitted he had lied to emergency services, accepting he had punched him around five times &#8211; although he denied kicking and stamping on him.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37155629\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37155629\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bhekisani Matabiswana\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_JS406001752.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, claimed he had found Luke collapsed\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, claimed he had found Luke collapsed<cite aria-label=\"Image: MEN MEDIA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: MEN MEDIA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_ae62be\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37154313\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/uk-most-wanted-criminals-spain-37154313\" tabindex=\"0\">UK&#8217;s 12 most wanted criminals hiding out in Spain &#8211; including double killer<\/a><\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_ae62be\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\"><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37155614\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/danny-cahalane-paris-wilson-verdict-37155614\" tabindex=\"0\">Woman guilty of killing ex-husband in Plymouth acid attack at his home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The trial also heard how Matabiswana, tried to flee the UK and was arrested at <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/manchester\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Manchester<\/a> Airport two days after the attack. Matabiswana denied <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/murder-trial\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">murder<\/a> but was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Police said Luke was one of the DJs booked for a Halloween fancy dress party at the Rosemount Working Men&#8217;s Club, in Bacup, Lancs, which Matabiswana had also coincidentally attended<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The killer &#8211; dressed as a clown &#8211; left the venue shortly before midnight with his associates, while Luke left using a different exit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">CCTV footage captured the movements of both groups as they walked through various streets. Matabiswana&#8217;s group was ahead of Luke, who was walking alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The defendant and his then partner separated from the group and at 23.58 there was an interaction with Luke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A short time later Luke was punched and then either kicked and\/or stamped on by Matabiswana while he lay defenceless on the ground, police said. had no defensive wounds on his hands or arms, and there were no marks on his hands to suggest he was the aggressor.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37155632\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37155632\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\" Luke standing in a garden\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_JS386517575-1-1.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\" Luke was one of the DJs booked for a Halloween fancy dress party\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\"> Luke was one of the DJs booked for a Halloween fancy dress party<cite aria-label=\"Image: MEN MEDIA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: MEN MEDIA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Matabiswana was captured on CCTV just after midnight, and his female associate appeared to be tugging at him as if he was attempting to leave the scene. It was in the two-minute period before this that Luke was fatally assaulted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Rather than attempt to administer first aid or ring for an ambulance, Matabiswana used Luke\u2019s phone to call the victim\u2019s friends at 12.03am to tell them he was on the floor. He also called Luke\u2019s family and told them a similar thing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Shortly after this saw Luke lying on the pavement and Matabiswana\u2019s female associate was kneeling next to him with his head in her hands. Noticing that Matabiswana was on the phone, he asked the defendant numerous times if he had called for an ambulance but received no reply.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The member of the public then called an ambulance and administered first aid to an unresponsive Luke, along with Matabiswana\u2019s ex-partner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Paramedics arrived just after 12.20am and provided first aid. They noted he had injuries to his face which were consistent with being the victim of an assault.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37155633\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37155633\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Flowers at scene of Luke's murder\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778764194_158_0_Man-found-guilty-of-murdering-Luke-Harden-in-Rossendale.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Flowers at scene of Luke's murder\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Flowers at scene of Luke&#8217;s murder<cite aria-label=\"Image: Phil Taylor \/ SWNS\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Phil Taylor \/ SWNS)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, Matabiswana lied to the paramedics, claiming that he had seen Luke fall, stating that Luke had struggled to breathe after falling and that he had put him into the recovery position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">At 12.35am police officers on patrol in the area came across paramedics tending to Luke. Matabiswana told officers that he had been walking from the working men\u2019s club when he came across Luke lying on the floor. He falsely claimed to have used Luke\u2019s phone to call for an ambulance and to have telephoned Rawtenstall A&amp;E.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Whilst the woman was talking to the police, the defendant was captured on the officer\u2019s body worn video camera talking to himself, and he was heard to say: \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have done this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following this, Luke was pronounced deceased at the scene at 1.17am.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Matabiswana and his partner were arrested on suspicion of Luke\u2019s murder shortly before 2am and they were taken into custody. It was noted that Matabiswana had grazing on his left-hand knuckles and swelling around the ring finger of his right hand which caused him pain when touched.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He later claimed these injuries were old and did not cause him any pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After being released under investigation Matabiswana was tracked by authorities and arrested at Manchester Airport trying to board a flight to South Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In his subsequent police interview, Matabiswana accepted that he had struck Luke but claimed it was in self-defence as he had been punched first. He denied using his feet to assault Luke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following his arrest, Matabiswana\u2019s mobile phone was seized and examined by experts. In text messages recovered from Matabiswana\u2019s phone, he gave another conflicting account about the circumstances which led to the altercation with Luke to the two he had given to the police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He also sent numerous messages about how he intended to flee the country, and that he needed money and a third-party email address to book a flight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Det Insp Pete MacDonald, said: \u201cFollowing a brief encounter with his victim, Matabiswana engaged in a frenzied and cowardly attack \u2013 continuing to attack Luke whilst he lay defenceless on the floor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cHe then made no effort to help Luke, instead choosing to contact his family and friends in a sordid and sinister bid to paint himself as the Good Samaritan who had simply come across an injured man on the pavement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cHe continued these callous lies to Luke\u2019s distressed friends and family, as their loved one lay dying on the ground yards away from them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThroughout this case. Matabiswana has shown no remorse, making several efforts to evade justice. Firstly, by attempting to leave the scene before police arrived \u2013 later being heard to say \u2018we shouldn\u2019t have done this\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cAnd then secondly by booking a flight to Johannesburg. Thankfully he never made that flight. Thankfully a jury had today held Matabiswana accountable for his actions by finding him guilty of Luke\u2019s murder. I would like to thank them for their considered verdicts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/halloween-killer-dressed-clown-carried-37155616\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Male model Luke Harden, 36, died after being punched, kicked and stamped on in the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778764194_0_Man-found-guilty-of-murdering-Luke-Harden-in-Rossendale.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2101"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}