A state High Court VII sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital has sentenced a corporal, Vincent Olama, to death by hanging for extrajudicial killing.
In his landmark judgment, Justice Nayai Aganaba said Mr Olama was found guilty of the killing of a 17 -year-old Innocent Kokorifa, in Okaka, Yenagoa on August 18, 2016.
Mr Aganaba said the prosecution called 10 witnesses and produced 16 exhibits while the defence only had one witness who happened to be the accused.
Our correspondent reports the judge saying that the onus of proof that the accused committed the murder of Kokorifa rested with the prosecution, in line with the three ingredients to prove a murder case, which are: that the deceased died; that the death of the deceased was caused by the accused; that the action of the accused which caused the death of the deceased was intentional with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily harm was its probable consequence.
Mr Aganaba, said, “It is unfortunate that I can only pronounce the sentence prescribed by law.
“I wish I had the discretion to do otherwise. However, that discretion rests with the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State.
“I am only left with the compulsion to pronounce the sentence prescribed by law. I hope that person with the discretion would look at the circumstance of this case and do the needful.
“I hereby pronounce my sentence. My sentence upon you is that you shall be hanged on the neck until you die. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
The convict hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State
