Anambra court sentences two men to death for rape, murder of mentally impaired teenager

OGIDI — The High Court of Anambra State, sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division, has sentenced two men to death by hanging for the conspiracy, rape, and murder of a 17-year-old girl who was mentally impaired.

Justice U.I. Ndigwe, delivering judgment in Suit No. HID/23C/2021, ruled that the prosecution had proved the three-count charge against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. The convicts, Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, rape, and murder. In her judgment, the trial judge described the offence as a grave violation of human life that demanded full accountability.

According to the prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel for the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Florence Abadom-Igweike, the case dates back to late 2020. The victim, Jennifer Anene, was reported missing on November 25, 2020, by her grandfather, Elder Pius Anene.

Three days later, the case took a decisive turn when Belonwu’s wife approached the Anene family and told them she had witnessed her husband and others sexually assaulting Jennifer while she cried out for help.

When Elder Anene confronted Belonwu with the account, he denied involvement and claimed he had last seen Jennifer with Ofokwu. Shortly afterward, a third individual, identified only as “Akpuchukwu,” brought an unconscious Jennifer back to her family’s home before fleeing. He remains at large.

The family rushed her to a nearby hospital on police instruction, but she was confirmed dead on arrival. A postmortem examination presented in court found extensive bruising and severe vaginal tears consistent with violent sexual assault, which the prosecution said led directly to her death.

The prosecution’s case relied on testimony from Elder Anene and the investigating police officer, along with forensic evidence including the postmortem report, police investigation files, and crime scene photographs.

Defence counsel is expected to review the judgment for a possible appeal, while police say the search continues for Akpuchukwu, the third suspect still at large.