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Two brothers to die by hanging, father, uncle die in detention
From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado Ekiti
IT was a double tragedy for the family of Aberefon of Igbara-Odo, Ekiti State, yesterday, when two members of the family, Olabode and Julius, were sentenced to death by hanging.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Bisi Omoleye, who handed down the judgment, rejected their claim of innocence in the murder of a Taraba State indigene, Mr. John Peter, who was one of the labourers working on their father's farm.
The two brothers allegedly hacked down the deceased over a feud between the father of the accused and the deceased.
Their father, Mathew Aberefon, who was equally standing trial on the alleged murder, had died in detention allegedly due to lack of adequate medical attention.
The family also lost a younger brother to the late Mathew Aberefon, who was arrested along with them but could not withstand the rigour of detention.
Citing the evidence of the investigating police officer, the judge said that the confessional statements voluntarily given by the accused were sufficient to establish the culpability of the brothers in the crime.
She rejected the plea of the accused persons that the confessional statements tendered by the police were made under duress, saying a voluntary statement made by the accused does not need any corroboration contrary to the claim of the counsel to the accused Mr. I. Ibrahim.
Besides, she said the accused persons did not provide any convincing proof that they made the statements under duress.
Relying on the confessional statement of the accused, Justice Omoleye said the accused persons killed the deceased with a gun and machete over the quarrel he had with their father.
She therefore ruled that the accused are guilty of the murder charge levelled against them and subsequently sentenced them to death by hanging.
As soon as the pronouncement was made, the accused persons and their family members broke down in tears, claiming that they were innocent of the charge against them.
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