By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, to death by hang
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his Elder brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon, whom he accused of being a witch and responsible for his life’s misfortunes.
The incident, which occurred on April 8, 2018, in Ikot Abasi Asutan, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, involved Akaninyene, a father of three children and his late brother, 37 year-old Ime Thomas Okpon, who was co-accused but died in custody before the conclusion of the trial.
The duo ambushed their blood brother in the bush popularly called “Usung Atan” farmland in Ikot Abasi Asutan, where he had gone to check his hunting traps, killed him with machetes, beheaded him, and buried the head separately, an act that shocked and devastated the community.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, in Suit No. HU/5C/2019, the trial judge, Justice Okon Okon found that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on the defendant’s confessional statement and corroborating evidence.
The court noted that the defendant, a primary three dropout had earlier issued threats to eliminate the deceased and others in the family and later led the Police to the crime scene where the remains of the deceased were recovered.
In his judgement, Justice Okon declared: “The sentence of the Court upon you, AKANINYENE THOMAS OKPON, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the murder weapons: two machetes marked as exhibits 1–1A to the state.
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