A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has sentenced two women, Onyema Bright Worlu and Edina Lovelyn-Worleru to life imprisonment for the death of one Isreal Georgewill.

Edina, a prophetess with a spiritual Church in Rumuche community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, allegedly prepared a poisonous substance as a love portion for Bright to administer in Georgewill’s food, who was her lover.

The trial Judge, Adolphus Enebeli, in his judgment on the matter, which started sometime in 2012, found the two guilty of manslaughter, instead of  the murder charge preferred against them in an earlier suit.

Justice Enebeli ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the first defendant’s statement  at the police station was voluntary.

Bright in the statement, said she administered a love portion to her man friend as prepared and instructed by her prophetess, who is the second defendant in the charge. The prophetess, she said, had told her that the deceased would assist her financially when he takes the portion, but never knew it would result in his death.

After considering all the facts and the position of the law especially under sections 7 and 24 of administration of criminal law of Rivers State, the Judge convicted and sentenced Bright and Edina to life imprisonment without an option of fine.

Speaking  outside the courtroom, Principal Prosecution State Counsel, Chidi Ekah, said the judgment is not only justice for the deceased and his family, but also for the state and Nigeria at large.

“I am happy that this matter has come to end. It does not mean that I am happy that somebody’s life will be wasted in prison, we do not take delight in that, but the law must take its course. After all, somebody was killed and so the law says if you kill, this is the punishment for you.

“ The court was even magnanimous enough to reduce it from murder to manslaughter. I am happy that justice has been served, “ he said.

On his part, counsel to the first defendant, Vincent Chukwu, said they will appeal the judgment in the interest of justice.

He said: “We have really gone through this matter since 2012 or so, till today and it is about nine years now we have battled this and it has not been easy. The fight is not over, it will get to the Supreme Court certainly. We are appealing the judgment.”

(Courtesy, The Guardian, text, excluding headline)

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