The presiding judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, said the first and second accused persons were guilty of kidnapping and murder, while the third accused person was only guilty of murder.The accused persons were brought under a two-count charge of kidnapping and murdering the infant, contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law 2010, and murder contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ondo State.
The one and half year old infant was said to have been kidnapped in the night from her parent’s residence at Ikorigho in Igbokoda on June 17, 2011.The corpse was said to have been found near the residence of the parents with her right eye, right ear, right breast and the right part of her scalp removed.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges during the trial.Justice Odusola submitted that the totality of the evidence before him showed that the prosecution had proved that the three accused persons were responsible for the death of the deceased.He said: “The offences for which the accused were charged are strict liability offences.
Death penalty would be the punishment for each of the counts. Having found the 1st and 2nd accused guilty of both counts, the 3rd accused is guilty of murder.“In sum, I hereby sentence Olusegun Obaro, Jonah Lase and Theophilus Friday to death by hanging.
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