Man to die by hanging for stabbing neighbour

Benin - A High Court sitting in Abudu in the Orhionmwon  Local Government Area of Edo on Thursday sentenced one Sunday Ilawe to death by hanging for stabbing his neighbour, Blessing Ehigie, to death.

Ilawe who stabbed Ehigie with a knife on Oct. 13, 2004 at Egua-Evbu Village had earlier pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder.

The Judge, Justice Uro Erameh, convicted Ilawe, after the five witnesses called by the Prosecution Counsel, Mrs Stella Okojie, proved their case against the convict as required by law.

The judge found the convict guilty of stabbing Ehigie in the neck and stomach which led to his death.

 He also held that the convict was arrested at the scene of crime while still holding the knife he used in committing the offence.

Erameh emphasised that Ilawe also made confessional statement to the police, adding that the statement alone was enough to send the convict to the gallows.

He said that the defence counsel failed to prove that the convict had mental problems before committing the murder.