BIRMINGHAM, England — A man who strangled his cellmate while awaiting trial has received an extended prison sentence. Vitalie Tanga, 41, now faces a minimum of 32 years and six months behind bars after a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal.
Tanga was already serving a sentence of at least 25 years for the murder of Alfred Mattox, who sustained severe injuries in Wolverhampton in 2021. At the time of the incident involving his cellmate, Tajinder Kular, Tanga was incarcerated at HMP Birmingham, where he committed the fatal assault on September 29, 2022.
West Midlands Police reported that Kular was found unconscious by prison personnel and was subsequently taken to an on-site hospital. Tragically, he never regained consciousness and passed away the following day. A post-mortem examination revealed ligature marks around Kular’s neck, along with bruising on his face and multiple fractures in his neck.
After a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, the Court of Appeal decided to impose a more severe punishment, adding two and a half years to Tanga’s original term due to the prison attack. Solicitor General MP Ellie Reeves described Tanga as “a violent man” responsible for two brutal murders. She expressed approval of the decision to extend his sentence, noting that he has not taken responsibility for his violent actions.
Tanga’s criminal history includes a conviction for Mattox’s murder, for which he was sentenced in April 2022. During that trial, he claimed that Mattox had made unwelcome advances at a social gathering. Det. Insp. Ade George from the Homicide Unit stated that Tanga’s reaction to Mattox’s sexuality was extreme, leading to a violent confrontation that ultimately claimed the life of the 56-year-old victim.
Mattox’s sustained injuries from the attack in Merridale left him hospitalized for two weeks before he succumbed to his wounds. Following Tanga’s extended sentence, the focus remains on the ongoing challenges within the prison system, particularly regarding inmate safety and violence.