Teen Drug Dealer Jailed For Life After Brutal Knife Murder in Medway
A teenage drug dealer has been locked up for life after chasing down and stabbing a man to death in broad daylight in Medway.
Nathan Kitenge’s Deadly Journey from London to Gillingham
Nathan Kitenge, 18, from Barking, east London, caught a taxi and a train to Gillingham on the morning of December 20, 2019. Within an hour of arriving, he ruthlessly stabbed 35-year-old Tony Eastwood five times, leaving him dead on the streets.
Kitenge faced Maidstone Crown Court, where he was convicted of murder on July 8, 2020. On August 24, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years behind bars before parole eligibility.
CCTV and Mobile Phone Evidence Seal Kitenge’s Fate
Police cracked the case by painstakingly analysing CCTV footage and phone records. They tracked Kitenge’s journey from London to Gillingham, identifying him despite his claims that someone else had stolen his clothes and carried out the attack.
Officers arrested Kitenge early January 11, 2020, on a train bound for Paris. His excuse about being robbed during a 19-minute CCTV blackout was dismissed after detectives matched his walking style and phone use before and after the murder.
Drug-Related Violence Spells Tragedy
“County lines drug dealing is a problem across the UK, with extreme violence used to protect brands,” said Detective Chief Inspector Tristan Kluibenschadl. “Kitenge murdered Tony Eastwood in broad daylight with no regard for the family, witnesses, or community.”
“His claims about stolen clothes were ludicrous. Thanks to excellent police work, we proved beyond doubt Kitenge was the killer. Class A drugs ruin lives, as this tragic case shows.”
“Kent Police has zero tolerance for such violence. We simply won’t stand for it.”
The motive is believed to be a drug-related dispute, and Tony Eastwood was reportedly known to Kitenge. The brutal stabbing shocked the community and highlights the dark toll county lines drug crime continues to take.
