The Anambra State High Court sitting, Ogidi Division, has sentenced two men, Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, to death by hanging for conspiracy, rape and the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Jennifer Anene.

The presiding judge, Justice U. I. Ndigwe who delivered the judgment on Friday in a suit no. HID/23C/2021, held that the prosecution proved the three counts charges against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge condemned the acts of the convicts, describing them as a violation that demanded accountability, noting that it desecrated societal values.

Leading the prosecution, Principal State Counsel, Florence Abadom-Igweike, told the court that the deceased, said to be mentally impaired, was reported missing on November 25, 2020, by her grandfather, the Pius Anene.

She said that three days later, the 1st defendant’s wife told the family that she had witnessed her husband and others sexually assaulting the deceased as she screamed for help.

According to her, when confronted, the 1st defendant denied the allegation and claimed he had last seen the deceased in the company of the 2nd defendant.

She said a mutual friend of the defendants, identified only as Akpuchukwu, later brought the deceased home unconscious and fled the scene and still at large.

The prosecution counsel said the victim was rushed to a hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival.

She added that a postmortem examination showed bruises, vaginal tears and other signs of aggravated sexual assault.

She said two witnesses, the victim’s grandfather and the investigating police officer, testified for the prosecution, while the postmortem report, police investigation report, and photographic evidence were also tendered in court.

The prosecution also told the court that the eyewitness, the 1st defendant’s wife, declined to testify despite being served with a court summon.

The defendants, who testified in their own defence, denied the allegations.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ndigwe held that the evidence before the court established the guilt of both defendants on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging. 

(NAN)