Man jailed for strangling girlfriend Natalina Angok to death in Melbourne's Chinatown

A man who strangled his girlfriend to death in a laneway in Melbourne's Chinatown has been jailed for more than two decades for her murder.

Christopher Bell, 34, was today sentenced to 21 years behind bars over girlfriend Natalina Angok's murder, with a non-parole period of 15 years.

The body of Ms Angok, 32, was found by a member of the public just after 6.30am on April 24 last year.

Bell strangled Ms Angok to death and then discarded her body in the alleyway before going to gamble at Crown Casino and buying himself a souvlaki.

Her murder prompted vigils across Melbourne as the city mourned her death.

Newly released CCTV showed the pair, who were together for nine months, arguing in a taxi moments before Bell murdered the aspiring dental nurse.

A court previously heard Bell suffered from schizophrenia and was released from a psychiatric facility in Gippsland a week before he killed Ms Angok.

The judge noted Bell had a history of violence against women long before he was diagnosed with a mental illness.

Ms Angok is believed to have fought back against Bell, with his DNA found underneath her fingernails.

Bell must wait just over 13 years before he can apply for parole.