Tit For Tat: Edo Police to die by hanging for murder (Page 2)

BENIN—AN Edo State  High Court sitting in Benin-City, has sentenced a Police Sergeant, Kalejaiye Ola, to death by hanging for the murder of one Paul Erimafa on June 23, 2003 with an AK 47 assault rifle.

In his judgment, the trial judge, Justice Roland Amaize held that the act of accused was pre-meditated as against his defence,  that the killing was as a result of accidental discharge.


The court  also held that initial report by the accused of a case of armed robbery against the deceased was proved to be a lie during investigation,  adding that there were contradictions in the convict’s  statement and oral testimony in court.

“It is the view of the court that there was no justification for the convict to have shot and killed the deceased, who was harmless as at the time of the incident,” the court held.

Justice Amaize further said that evidence from the Police Doctor, who performed post-mortem on the corpse showed damaged urinary bladder and profuse bleeding which led to the death of the victim.

The court also noted that evidence of one of the expert prosecution witness on the handling of arms and ammunition indicated that the Ak 47 rifle was not at the safety cache when the incident.

The trial judge held that the evidence of another prosecution witness present at the scene of the crime was not challenged, adding  that the evidence of a witness called by the Sergeant was questionable as there was no summons on the witness to come and testify in court.

Saying that the prosecution proved the case of murder against the accused beyond reasonable doubt as stated by law, Justice Amaize sentenced the Police Sergeant to death by hanging under Section 319 of the Criminal Code.

a good lesson to many others

An eye for an eye will serve the Nigerian Police right