Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, has sentenced 36-year-old Victor Etim-Eyo Obot to death, for killing his father.
Having been found guilty of killing his father whom he accused of being responsible for his misfortunes, Obot, a native of Ikot Obio Mkpong Ikono in Uyo Local Government Area, was sentenced to death.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, the trial judge Justice Okon Okon said there was credible evidence that the deceased died after the accused attacked him with a matchet.
The murder weapon was recovered at the scene of the crime at number 7C, Abak Road, Uyo on 6th of July, 2019.
Justice Okon said, "There is a credible and acceptable evidence that the deceased died shortly after the accused attacked him with a matchet. I have no doubt that the accused did not only intend to cause the deceased grievous bodily harm but resolved to eliminate him for the nebulous, unsubstantiated allegation that his father was the cause of his problems."
The Court held that "a man who stabs or inflicts matchet cut on another on the neck region, is deemed to have intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to the person.
"The intent to kill can be formed from the nature of the weapon used and the use of a lethal and death-threatening or dead-dealing weapon in the sensitive part of the body like neck'
"The prosecution has led credible, cogent and acceptable evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offense of murder against the accused.
"The accused acted callously in the gruesome murder of his father. The accused betrayed his father. Even the Heavens weep over the senseless killing" of the old man, whose death "the son rejoiced over, and construed it as the beginning of his freedom from his problems."
"The deceased did not deserve to die by the very hand of his own son.
"I hold therefore that the killing of the deceased by his son in the circumstances stated in the evidence in this case, was unlawful, inexcusable and unjustifiable
"I hereby find you, Victor Etimeyo Obot guilty of murder as charged and accordingly convict you. You are to be hanged by the neck untill you be dead," Justice Okon pronounced.
