200 x 200 banner

t.write(''); // -->

Monday 18 July 2016

3 women to die by hanging for killing a toddler - Benin High Court


On July 18th, A judge sitted in Benin High Court sentenced three persons to death by hanging over the murder of a three-year -old girl. The offence was committed by Betty Stephen, the stepmother, and the two teachers- Johnson Ogbeide and Nancy Aiwuyor on February 24, 2009, at Erhiborhibo village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo.
The judge, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, in her judgment ruled out that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. She said that the prosecution proved that the stepmother, gave the three-year -old girl to Ogbeide, who in turn handed over the baby to his colleague, Aiwuyor, to be sold for ritual purposes. He said;
"The child was left in the custody of her stepmother by her parents and went to farm on the day the child was killed". “When the victim’s parents returned, they could not find the child, only for the stepmother to confess that she sold the child to the two other convicts,” 
According to the trial judge, the prosecution established that the victim was sold for N1.5 million, her nine fingers cut off, her hair shaved for the ritual. She said :
“seven years after the victim disappeared in the hands of the convicts without being found, the court was safe to hold that the child was dead.“The acts of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons which caused the death of the deceased were unlawful,”
The court also sentenced the convicts to 14- year jail term each for the offence of child stealing.

Source: Punch

No comments: