The Anambra State High Court, Ogidi Division, has sentenced Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu to death by hanging for conspiracy, rape, and the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Jennifer Anene.
Justice U. I. Ndigwe delivered the judgement on Friday in suit no. HID/23C/2021. The judge held that the prosecution proved all three counts against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Florence Abadom-Igweike, told the court that the victim, who had a mental impairment, was reported missing on November 25, 2020, by her grandfather, Pius Anene.
Three days later, the wife of the 1st defendant told the family she had seen her husband and others sexually assaulting the girl as she screamed for help. When confronted, Belonwu denied the allegation and said he last saw the deceased with the 2nd defendant.
According to the prosecution, a mutual friend of the defendants, identified only as Akpuchukwu, later brought the girl home unconscious and fled. He remains at large.
The victim was taken to a hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival. A postmortem report presented in court listed bruises, vaginal tears, and other injuries consistent with aggravated sexual assault.
Two witnesses testified for the prosecution: the victim’s grandfather and the investigating police officer. The court also admitted the postmortem report, police investigation report, and photographic evidence.
The prosecution noted that the eyewitness, the 1st defendant’s wife, did not testify despite being served with a court summons. Both defendants testified in their own defence and denied the allegations.
In delivering judgement, Justice Ndigwe said the evidence established the guilt of both men on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging.
