THE killer of a Vange man will serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars.

Daniel Mitchell-Monroe, 37, from Vange, was stabbed three times outside Iceland in Market Pavement, Basildon, after stepping in to confront Joram Bakumanya on June 28.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he punched the unemployed 22-year-old, of no fixed address, after he followed his niece Armani Lewis through town, threatening to “slap” her and demanding “respect”.

Mr Mitchell-Monroe was stabbed in the left arm, stomach and chest, rupturing the aorta.

The court heard that Bakumanya had previous convictions of possession of cannabis, possession of a knife, robbery and actual bodily harm

Mr Bakumanya was handed a life sentence today.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Al Pitcher, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Joram Bakumanya is a very dangerous and callous individual who had armed himself earlier in the day and then committed a savage attack on Mr Mitchell-Monroe.

"This deadly incident was initiated by Bakumanya when he began harassing a young woman who was just out shopping on a summer afternoon.

"Feeling concerned for her safety, she telephoned her uncle to ask him for help.

"Mr Mitchell-Monroe acted selflessly and bravely to protect his niece. When he intervened, Bakumanya ferociously attacked him, stabbing him four times.

"He ran from the scene and threw his knife and bloodstained T-shirt into bushes. 

"It was quick-thinking from local officers who completed a very effective search and found Bakumanya in a residential street a short time later.

"I am pleased with the sentence handed down today. 

"I would like to pay tribute to Mr Mitchell-Monroe’s family who have shown great patience to see justice served and conducted themselves with dignity and restraint throughout the investigative and judicial process.

"My thoughts are very much with them at this time.

"This case is a sad and shocking example of the consequences of what carrying a knife can lead to. 

"I plea to those who carry a knife to think long and hard about this case and make a choice not to carry such weapons.”