Convicted killer jailed for strangling cellmate whilst on remand

A convicted killer has been jailed for a second murder after he strangled a fellow inmate, while on remand in prison.

The second killing happened in 2022 while Vitalie Tanga was in jail awaiting trial for the murder of a man at his flat in Wolverhampton in 2021.

While Tanga was in HMP Birmingham ahead of that murder trial, he turned on his cellmate and strangled him.

Tajinder Kular was found unconscious by prison officers on 29 September 2022 in the cell the two men were sharing, and despite being treated at the prison hospital he never regained consciousness and died the following day.

A post mortem found he had ligature marks round his neck, and bruising to his face, as well as a number of broken bones in his neck.

Tanga, aged 41, was convicted of this second murder on Friday (27 June) following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. On Thursday (3 July) he was sentenced to a life term and ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years, to run concurrently to his previous sentence.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Ade George from the Homicide Unit at West Midlands Police, said: "It remains a tragedy that Tajinder Kular lost his life in such circumstances.

"Tanga has not taken responsibility for his actions or shown any remorse since. He instead chose to blame the victim for attacking him and claiming to the court that he acted in self-defence. The jury did not believe this account, and this is reflected in the verdict."

In April 2024, Tanga, of no fixed address, was found guilty of the murder of Alfred Mattox and the assault of another man. He was handed a life sentence, with a minumum term of 25 years behind bars.

Mr Mattox was found with severe head and face injuries at his home in Merridale on 10 May in 2021 after Tanga had attacked the carer in his own home, claiming Mattox made a pass at him at a party.

The 56-year-old was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where two weeks later he sadly died.

Another man who had also been assaulted in the flat by Tanga fortunately made a full recovery.

During police interview Tanga denied assaulting the two men and made homophobic comments in relation to Mr Mattox.