Court sentences man to death by hanging for killing his colleague in Kogi

Justice Josiah Majebi of a high court in Kogi state has sentenced a Nigerian man, Muritala Dare, to death after finding him guilty of the murder of his colleague.

Dare was convicted after he reportedly stabbed his colleague to death with a broken bottle.

Justice Majebi found the accused guilty of the offense after considering his involvement in an incident that occurred on August 16, 2020 around the NUJ area of the Lokoja metropolis.

During the trial, the prosecutor called three witnesses and tendered seven exhibits to prove that the defendant committed the offense. Some of the exhibits included the defendant’s confessional statement, a coroner’s report, and a police postmortem examination report dated August 19, 2020.

The court held that the stated evidence of circumstances made it possible that the statement made by the defendant and contained in Exhibit P1 was “truly confessional”.

Delivering judgment, Justice Majebi ruled that the convict should die by hanging.

“Premised on the above findings, I hold that the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of the charge against the defendant and thereby raising the presumption of guilt against him in respect of the charge.

That you, Dare Murtala, is hereby sentenced to death for the offence of culpable homicide for which you are convicted. The sentence of this court upon you is that you will be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul”the judge said