Wolverhampton murderer jailed for second killing as he strangled an HMP Birmingham prison inmate to death

A convicted murderer from Wolverhampton has been jailed for a second killing after he strangled a fellow inmate, while on remand at HMP Birmingham.

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 September 29, 2022 in the cell the two men were sharing. 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 (June 27) following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. On Thursday (July 3) he was sentenced to a life term and ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years, to run concurrently to his previous sentence.

Who did Vitalie Tanga murder previously?

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 minimum term of 25 years behind bars.

Mr Mattox, who worked as a carer, was found with severe head and face injuries at his home in Merridale in Wolverhampton on May 10 in 2021. 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 died.

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

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

‘Tanga has not taken responsibility for his actions’

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."