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A drunk male model was beaten to death by a stranger in an attack “so sudden, so quick and so brutal” that he had no chance to defend himself, according to prosecutors.

Luke Harden, 36, had been at a Halloween party in Bacup, a small town in northwest England, when he was attacked by Bhekisani Matabiswana, a 26-year-old stranger leaving the same party, according to a court report by the BBC.

The model was drunk and appeared to have taken cocaine and ketamine — leaving him staggering down the street in “no condition to fight,” prosecutor Nicholas Rhodes told the jury.


  Luke Harden, a male model, was fatally beaten in a rapid, one-minute street attack in Bacup, England, after a Halloween party, a court heard. Lancashire Police Luke Harden, a male model, was fatally beaten in a rapid, one-minute street attack in Bacup, England, after a Halloween party, a court heard. Lancashire Police

Harden was seen just seconds before midnight as he drunkenly threw things in the street and exchanged words with Matabiswana’s girlfriend as she tried to get a taxi, the trial was told.

Matabiswana then beat Harden to the ground — and stamped and kicked his head, the jury was told.

Harden suffered catastrophic brain injuries, with a swollen skull, extensive facial bruising, fractured nose and jaw as well as bruised upper body — with the injuries so extensive, it was impossible to work out exactly which wound killed him, the trial was told.

Matabiswana used Harden’s phone to contact his friends, and claimed Harden fell in front of him and couldn’t breathe, the trial heard.


  Harden suffered catastrophic brain injuries, with a swollen skull, extensive facial bruising, fractured nose and jaw as well as bruised upper body, according to reports. Facebook / Parts Town UK Harden suffered catastrophic brain injuries, with a swollen skull, extensive facial bruising, fractured nose and jaw as well as bruised upper body, according to reports. Facebook / Parts Town UK

However, the suspect had blood spattered on his clothing and injured knuckles from the brutal attack, prosecutors said.

Matabiswana also sent texts saying that he’d “beat someone up for trying to rape some girl” and that the man “died,” while also saying he might “make a run for it,” the trial heard.

The suspected murderer was busted days later as he headed to Manchester airport, seemingly planning to flee the country, the trial heard.


  Harden (above) was drunk and appeared to have taken cocaine and ketamine — leaving him staggering down the street in “no condition to fight,” prosecutor Nicholas Rhodes told the jury. GoFundMe Harden (above) was drunk and appeared to have taken cocaine and ketamine — leaving him staggering down the street in “no condition to fight,” prosecutor Nicholas Rhodes told the jury. GoFundMe

Matabiswana’s defense claims he acted in self-defense, alleging Harden had tried to grab his girlfriend. Prosecutors argue the victim was in no condition to pose a real threat.

Matabiswana has denied murder. His trial continues.

Harden was remembered by his agency, Nemesis, as a “respected” professional model who was “loved by everyone who met him.”

“Luke had been a model with Nemesis since 2013 and was respected by everyone who worked with him,” the agency said, calling him “one of our favourite models.”

His family, meanwhile, said at the time of his death that “there are no words to describe how devastated we all are.”

“We wish our Luke could see the outpouring of love from everyone who knows him,” the family said in a tribute, the BBC previously reported.

“He is and will always be special to us all, as a son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, boyfriend and friend.”

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