Kelechi Kas
A suspected serial killer, Gracious David-West, on Tuesday, pleaded guilty to 9 of the 10-Count charges levelled against him by the Rivers state Police Command.
West who arrested on his way to Uyo on September 20 was for the first time, arraigned before a Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He is accused of murdering over seventeen (17) ladies in different hotels across the country.
However, during the court proceeding on Monday, the suspect did not have a lawyer to defend him.
The trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, based on the expedition of the matter, adjourned to 22nd October 2019 (Today), for the suspect to get a lawyer that will represent him in the case.
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Justice Enebeli had stressed further that if the suspect was unable to procure a lawyer, the court will have no choice but to provide him with one.
The court on Tuesday appointed Vincent Chukwu to defend West. Chukwu expressed readiness to defend his court-appointed client.
David-West pleaded not guilty to the last charge of attempted murder of several female girls in Rivers State.
In one of the charges, the Police claimed that West “unlawfully killed several females in different hotels and guest houses in parts of Rivers State which is a punishable offence under section 319 sub one cap 37, volume 2 laws of the state,1999 as amended.”
After the charges were read and the suspect taken his plea, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Zacheuous Adangor applied to take over prosecution of the matter from the Police.
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The State Government’s application was not opposed by the parties involved.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli who assured the parties of an expeditious trial, however, adjourned till 18, 21th, 27th and 29th of November and 4th of December 2019 for hearing and ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody.
Chidi Eke, counsel to the state government told journalists that, “The Rivers State government decided to take over the matter because of its sensitivity. We owe it a duty to get Justice for the defendants and we are ready to deploy all our resources to achieve that.
“We also decided to prosecute the matter because our laws have been broken by this man.”
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