The Akwukwu-Igbo Division of the Delta State High Court, on Friday, sentenced a man, Obinna Eze, to death by hanging for killing a six-month-old baby.

Mr Eze was charged with three counts of attempted murder, murder and causing grievous harm.

The Delta government charged Mr Eze with killing a six-month-old Chimaobi Igwe and causing bodily harm to the child’s mother, Blessing Igwe.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Justice Marcel Okoh found the defendant guilty of all the charges.

While delivering the judgment, Justice Okoh held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He said evidence provided by the deceased’s mother, the pathologist, and the confessional statement tendered by the police, established the prosecution’s case.

The court, however, rejected the defendant’s denial in his testimony before the court, and the retraction of his confessional statement.

The court convicted and sentenced him to death by hanging for killing the six-month-old child.

The solicitor and permanent secretary of the justice ministry, Omamuzo Erebe, led the prosecution. He said the convict committed the offences on October 27, 2023, at Talita Street, Okpanam Road, Asaba.

The prosecution said the offences contravened Sections 320,319 and 335 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Delta State

The first prosecution witness, Ms Igwe, had told the court that the incident occurred after she had a disagreement over a missing phone belonging to the defendant, her neighbour.

She said the defendant attacked her with a cutlass and inflicted several injuries on her and on the head of her child who died a week later in the hospital.

In his evidence, the pathologist, Emmanuel Egbuduka, told the court that the child died from three deep injuries on his head.

The convict was led in evidence by his counsel, P. Onubah. He gave evidence as the only witness in his defence.

(NAN)