Man Sentenced To Death For Murder Of A Baby In Delta

A High Court in Delta State’s Akwukwu-Igbo Oshimili North Local Government Area has sentenced Obinna Eze to death for the murder of Chimaobi Igwe, a six-month-old boy.

The court presided over by Justice Marcel Okoh convicted and sentenced Obinna Eze to death by hanging on Thursday.

The defendant was arraigned before the court on a three-count charge for the offences of attempted murder, murder, and causing grievous bodily harm, punishable under Sections 320, 319, and 335 respectively of the Criminal Code Laws of Delta State.

The prosecution was conducted by the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Omamuzo Erebe, who led other counsel in the matter.

“In proof of its case, the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered two exhibits.

“We called PW1, Mrs. Blessing Igwe, the mother of the deceased baby. She told the court that on October 27, 2023, she had a disagreement over a missing phone belonging to the defendant.

“The defendant, who was her co-tenant at Talitha Street, off Okpanam Road Asaba, attacked her with a cutlass and inflicted several cuts on her and on the head of her six-month-old baby.

“She told the court that she and her son were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The deceased, however, died a week later from the injuries inflicted on him.

“The PW2, Dr. Emmanuel Egbuduka, a pathologist who conducted an autopsy on the body of the deceased, told the court that the cause of death was as a result of three deep penetrating injuries to the head caused by a sharp object such as a cutlass,” the prosecutor said.

The defendant was also led by his counsel, P.C. Onubah, Esq., to testify in his defence and called no witness.

Delivering judgement, Justice Marcel Okoh said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He said, “The eyewitness evidence of the deceased’s mother, PW1, the evidence of the pathologist, PW2, and the confessional statement of the defendant made to the investigation police officer, all established the case of the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The court rejected the defendant’s denial in his testimony before the court and his retraction of the confessional statement. The court then sentenced the defendant to death by hanging for the murder of Chimaobi Igwe.”