By Our Reporter
A High Court sitting in Kwale, Delta State, has sentenced 44-year-old Lucky Edozien and his accomplice, Amaechi Enuebuka, to death by hanging for the murder of Edozien’s 70-year-old mother over allegations of witchcraft.
The prosecution, led by Mrs. Catherine Onoberhie-Oberuomo of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, told the court that Edozien believed his mother was responsible for his misfortunes, claiming a ring she wore was the source of his problems.
To carry out the act, Edozien enlisted Enuebuka, a commercial motorcyclist, promising to reward him with musical instruments. Enuebuka reportedly helped by luring the victim’s daughter, Mrs. Paulinah Okonji, away from the house under the pretext of negotiating the purchase of scrap materials.
With the daughter absent, Edozien gained access to his mother’s room and killed her.
Although there was no eyewitness testimony and the victim’s daughter did not testify, the court relied on the “Doctrine of Last Seen” and police investigative findings to establish the guilt of both men.
Delivering judgment, Justice D.C. Maidoh held that the offence, committed on April 13, 2023, in Umudike Quarters, Ossissa, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, violated Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law of Delta State. Both defendants were consequently sentenced to death by hanging.