AWKA — An Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has sentenced one Ifeanyi Anizoba Jr. to death by hanging for the murder of his father, Mr Ifeanyi Anizoba.
Delivering his judgement on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Chukwudi Okaa, ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and that the defendant was guilty of causing the death of his own father.
The tragic incident occurred on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2019, at Nodu Village, Okpuno, in Awka. According to the prosecution team led by Chief State Counsel, Mrs Chiamaka Chukwuka, the defendant became involved in a heated dispute with his father, which escalated into violence.
In her submission to the court, Mrs Chukwuka stated: “The defendant pushed his father during an altercation, causing him to hit his head against a wall. He lost consciousness immediately.”
In a disturbing turn of events, the court heard that after the elder Anizoba fell unconscious, his son left him unattended for two full days without seeking any medical help.
“He reportedly locked his father in a room, where he remained until neighbours raised the alarm after perceiving a foul odour,” the prosecution counsel added. “The body was subsequently discovered by family members.”
The prosecution called three witnesses: a relative of the deceased, the investigating police officer, and the medical doctor who carried out the post-mortem examination.
The defendant, who initially had no legal representation, was later assigned counsel from the Office of the Public Defender. The defence called two witnesses and denied responsibility for the death.
However, in his final judgment, Justice Okaa held that “the totality of the evidence established that the defendant’s actions led to the death of the deceased.”
He accordingly convicted the suspect and sentenced him to death by hanging, in line with the law.
The ruling has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many expressing both horror at the circumstances of the killing and support for the court’s decision.
