Court sentence 21yrs old boy to 10yrs jail term over rape to death of 5yrs old girl in Bayside

YENAGOA… A Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentence a 21years old boy, Timiondu Jephtath to 10years imprisonment over his indictment for manslaughter in the rape to death of five years old girl in 2016 at Akede Community of Sagbama Local Government area of the State.

The Presiding Judge, Justice E.G.Omukoro in his ruling in the suit numbered SHC/4C/2016 with a one count charge of Murder brought against the accused by the State Ministry of Justice, declared that charge becomes manslaughter due to the inability of the prosecution to prove the allege intent to commit murder.

In his ruling, Justice Omukoro after considering the defendant’s plea of allocutus, declared that the court is mindful of the youthful age of the defendant who could be redeemed and make amends by way of atonement for his action, ordered that “the defendant be detained at the Okaka Correctionl centre in Yenagoa or elsewhere as the Governor may determine for a period of 10 years at the pleasure of the State Governor.”

It would be recalled that in 2016, the accused who was aged 16years, was arrested for raping to death a five years old girl and fliging her lifeless body into an abandoned Fish pond close to his residence.

A private legal practitioner, Deme Bebra Pamosoo Esq.,who acted as the counsel to the victim’s parents ensured that the victim’s body was recovered, autopsy conducted by the Police and a water tight case file presented to the State Ministry of Justice for the Director of Public Prosecution recommendation for trial.

Reacting to the development, the Acting Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ebimietei Ekeowei Ottah, described the ruling as a victory to the victims of rape, defilement and violence against women in the state, “it is a sound warning to the general public that it is no longer business as usual in Bayelsa state. Once you are brought before the law, the law will take its course and catch up with you.”

“It has been a worrisome practice in Bayelsa State and more worrisome are the issue of negotiation with culprits by parents of victims of defilement or rape. It can no longer be tolerated or swept under the carpet as settlement. We call on parents, teachers, neighbors and guardians to be vigilant and speak out against cases of rape, defilement and violence against women in the state.”

Comments

comments