A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Monday sentenced one Azubuike Ogonor to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend, Blessing Iyumame.
Azubuike was found guilty of setting his girlfriend ablaze after pouring petrol on her body.
It was also learnt that the convict also inflicted machete cut injuries on Blessing’s body before she was rushed to the hospital.
Delivering judgement, Justice Chioma Okirie said Azubuike had confessed to the crime.
According to the judge, the convict committed the crime by pouring petrol on the victim and using matches to set his girlfriend on fire after pouring petrol on her.
Justice Okirie had also observed that there was no misunderstanding between the man and his girlfriend to have warranted the attack on the deceased after staying together throughout the night without any quarrel.
The court stated that the convict became aggressive after sighting Blessing with another man and felt she was cheating on him with the man.
The tragic incident was said to have happened in the convict’s room.
It was learnt that the lady was rushed to a nearby hospital in Ahoada before she was transferred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where she later died.
Justice Okirie commended parties involved in the case, which lasted for 12 years and four months, for their patience till the day of judgement.
The prosecution counsel, Chijioke Boms, explained shortly after the judgement that the court did justice to the matter.
Boms warned that people must resist the temptation of taking the law into their hands no matter the level of provocation.
Joseph, father of the late Blessing, said he's satisfied that his late daughter had got justice at last.
Azubuike's lawyer, N. S. Ibrahim, had pleaded for leniency after the judgement was delivered.
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