The Anambra State High Court sitting in Ogidi Judicial Division has sentenced two men: Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, to death by hanging for conspiracy, rape, and murder of a 17-year-old girl, Jennifer Anene.
The presiding judge, Justice U. I. Ndigwe, delivered the judgment in Suit Number: HID/23C/2021.
The judge held on Friday that the prosecution had proved the three counts against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
Ndigwe condemned the acts of the convicts, describing them as a violation that demanded accountability and had 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, Elder Pius Anene.
Abadom-Igweike 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.
Akpuchukwu remains at large.
The prosecution counsel said the victim was rushed to the hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival.
Abadom-Igweike added that a postmortem examination revealed bruises, vaginal tears, and other signs of aggravated sexual assault.
She said two witnesses, the victim’s grandfather and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), 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 in spite of being served with a court summons.
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.
