Delta court sentences two to death for murder, robbery, rape

A Delta State High Court sitting at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state has sentenced two men, Mr Ojerbo Solomon and Mr Ola Babatunde, to death after eight years of trials.

The court, Presided over by Justice M.O. Omovie, convicted and sentenced the two men for murder, armed robbery, and rape.

The prosecution led by Mr E.H. Edema had, through its five witnesses, led evidence to show that on February 8, 2016, the two defendants, while armed with guns, cutlasses, and knives, broke into the house of the victims.

“In the course of the armed robbery, the defendants raped the victims and thereafter slit their throats.

“One of the victims, Mr Praise Sunday, survived the attack, but his mother and Sister died from the attack.

“After committing the attack, the two defendants escaped on the victim’s motorcycle to Ewohimi in Edo State, from where they were later apprehended by the police,” he said.

In the course of the trial, the two Defendants gave evidence in their defence and denied the allegation in their testimony but called no witnesses.

Justice Omovie in his judgement stated that after carefully evaluating the evidence presented at the trial, he came to the conclusion that the prosecution had proved the case against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt, and accordingly convicted both defendants as charged.

Justice Omovie said, “The two Defendants hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”