A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced Charles Baridolee to death by hanging for the murder of Gerald Tekena in the Bodo community, Gokana Local Government Area of the state.
Baridolee was found guilty of killing Tekena in 2024 after inflicting multiple machete cuts on him following a quarrel between the two men.
According to court proceedings, the convict attacked the deceased after warning him to stop giving money to his (Baridolee’s) family. The convict had reportedly accused Tekena of causing his family members to disrespect him because of the financial assistance he offered them an altercation that escalated into the deadly attack.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Augusta Chukwu, held that the prosecution proved its case of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, relying on witness testimonies, physical evidence, and the confessional statement of the convict.
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Justice Chukwu thereafter sentenced Baridolee to death by hanging, ruling that “he shall be hanged by the neck until he is confirmed dead.”
Speaking to journalists after the judgment, the Chief Prosecution Counsel from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Ordu Precious, described the verdict as justice served, saying it had restored hope to the family of the deceased and reaffirmed faith in the judiciary.
“The judgment has given hope to the family of the deceased and proven once again that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man,” Precious said.
On his part, the defence counsel, Angus Chukwuka, commended the court for what he described as a “well-considered judgment” but disclosed plans to appeal the decision, noting that the case “involves human life and deserves another legal review.”
