Chinatown strangler is jailed for 21 years for murdering his girlfriend in a Melbourne laneway

 

  • Christopher Allen Bell, 34, pleaded guilty to the murder of Natalina Angok, 32 
  • On Friday, he was sentenced to 21 years' jail. He will be eligible for parole in 2034
  • Ms Angok was described as the light of her family with sweet soul, heart of gold
  • The pair dated for nine months before the horrific murder in Melbourne laneway 

A man who strangled his girlfriend in a Melbourne laneway and then went to Crown Casino to gamble instead of calling for help has been jailed for 21 years. 

Natalina Angok's relatives described the 32-year-old as the light of her family, a sweet soul with a heart of gold after she was murdered by Christopher Allen Bell in April last year.

She had been in a relationship with Bell for nine months before he killed her and left her body in a Chinatown laneway to go gamble before going home. 

Bell, now 34, was on Friday jailed for 21 years for her murder.

Ms Angok was choked to death

Natalina Angok (pictured) was described as the light of her family, a sweet soul with a heart of gold after she was murdered by Christopher Allen Bell in April last year

Christopher Allen Bell (pictured), 34, was jailed on Friday for 21 years for the murder of Ms Angok

Christopher Allen Bell (pictured), 34, was jailed on Friday for 21 years for the murder of Ms Angok

A police officer is seen on Little Bourke St where Ms Angok's dead body was found on April 24, 2019

A police officer is seen on Little Bourke St where Ms Angok's dead body was found on April 24, 2019

He had a history of violence against his partners and told a pre-sentence hearing last month he was in the midst of a 'psychotic meltdown'.

Ms Angok began to feature in his schizophrenic delusions almost immediately after their relationship began.

Bell reported visual and auditory hallucinations in the lead-up to the murder, and had admitted himself to hospital a week before.

He said his mother had tried to have him sectioned to remain in hospital, but they wouldn't because he had admitted himself. He was released to a transition facility which he then voluntarily left.

He was still experiencing hallucinations - the voices of Ms Angok and a former partner who had died.

'We just want to kill you,' he said one of the voices told him.

Natalina Angok was strangled to death in a Melbourne laneway by her boyfriend in April last year

Natalina Angok was strangled to death in a Melbourne laneway by her boyfriend in April last year

Bell pleaded guilty to killing her

Bell (pictured)  admitted he 'choked the life out of her until she breathed no longer'

Ms Angok's body was found in Little Bourke St (pictured) in Melbourne on April 24 last year

Ms Angok's body was found in Little Bourke St (pictured) in Melbourne on April 24 last year

While Bell was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2014, he was not treated with anti-psychotic medication after his hospital admission.

He saw Ms Angok several times in the days after his release. Just after 5am on April 24 last year they argued as they walked through Chinatown, after Bell was caught trying to steal a bottle of wine from a liquor store.

Ms Angok went down the laneway to relieve herself, and he said he wondered if he should follow to 'keep an eye on her'.

'Things sort of went a bit funny and then I remember being on top of her and panicking, not really knowing what was what I was doing or how I even ended up on top of her,' he said.

Bell later told police he had 'choked the life out of her until she breathed no longer'. Her body was found about 90 minutes later.

Ms Angok fought back. His DNA was found under her fingernails, from scratches on his face.

'Having killed her for reasons you yourself cannot comprehend, you left her alone and dead in an alleyway,' Justice Lex Lasry said.

'You were supposed to love and protect her ... even if my life depended on it, I will never forgive you,' Ms Angok's sister said

'You were supposed to love and protect her ... even if my life depended on it, I will never forgive you,' Ms Angok's sister said

Bell had claimed he was immediately remorseful for what he had done, but he did not seek help for Ms Angok.

Instead he spent an hour gambling at Crown Casino, stood on a street corner eating a souvlaki for 15 minutes, and bought a bottle of wine and cigarettes before going home to bed.

Doctors found Bell, whose mental health has stabilised in prison, remains a high risk of reoffending.

Angok's sister said she would never forgive Bell.

'You were supposed to love and protect her ... even if my life depended on it, I will never forgive you,' she said.

Bell will be eligible for parole in 2034.

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