admin
The Anambra high court in Ogidi has sentenced two men — Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu — to death by hanging over the rape and murder of Jennifer Anene, a 17-year-old girl.
U. I. Ndigwe, the presiding judge, on Friday, ruled that the prosecution had proved the three-count charge against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
According to NAN, Ndigwe held that the evidence before the court established the guilt of both defendants on all counts.
The judge said the defendants’ action is a desecration of societal values that require accountability.
During court proceedings, Florence Abadom-Igweike, the principal state counsel, said the deceased, who was reportedly battling mental illness, was reported missing on November 25, 2020, by her grandfather, Pius Anene.
Abadom-Igweike said that three days later, the first defendant’s wife told the deceased’s family that she had witnessed her husband and others sexually assaulting the girl while she was screaming for help.
The state counsel said that when the first defendant was confronted, he said he last saw the deceased in the company of the second defendant and denied allegations of sexual assault.
Abadom-Igweike said a mutual friend of the defendants, simply identified as Akpuchukwu, who is currently at large, brought the deceased home unconscious and fled the scene.
The state counsel said the victim was rushed to the hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival.
Abadom-Igweike disclosed that a postmortem examination revealed bruises, vaginal tears and other signs of aggravated sexual assault.
The prosecution told the court that the first defendant’s wife refused to testify despite a court summons.
The defendants, who testified in their own defence, denied the allegations.
