A Delta State High Court sitting at Ughelli Judicial Division, Ughelli North local government area of the state has sentenced one Mr. Narebor Stephen Donbrapade, a staff of the Delta State Judiciary to death by hanging for using a kitchen knife to stab his co-flatmate’s wife to death.
Donbrapade, 49 year old former counsellor hails from Esama town in Bomadi local government area of Delta state had allegedly on the 31st day of January, 2013 at Otobor Street, within the Ughelli Judicial Division, murdered one Stella Avwenayerhe by stabbing on her on the chest, an offence punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap C.21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State, 2006.
HardReporters judiciary correspondent reliably gathered that, Donbrapade who is popularly known as “Honourable” shares a room in a three bedroom flat with the husband of the deceased located at No 15 Otobo Street Ughelli with a separate entrance to his room.
According to a source, “On that fateful day, the Donbrapade and the victim were said to have had a minor altercation after he walked through the rug in the sitting room without removing his shoes. The altercation occurred after being reprimanded by the deceased. To teach his co-flatmate’s wife a lesson for having the audacity to challenge him, the Donbrapade dashed into his room only to appear with a knife and immediately stabbed Stella Avwenayerhe on the chest and she was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors at the Ughelli Central hospital where she was rushed to by neighbors who came to her rescue.”
The Court presided over by Justice F. O. Ohwo in a suit number UHC/21c/13, State Vs Narebor Stephen Donbrapade found the accused guilty on a one count charge of murder proffered against him by the State Attorney-General through the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In his defense, the accused who pleaded not guilty to the one count charge alleged that the victim was stabbed to death by some unidentified hoodlums in the area.
While delivering the death verdict, Justice F.O. Ohwo of the Ughelli High Court ruled that he disbelieved the accused whom he described as not a witness of truth and believed the evidences of the four prosecution witnesses called by an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice including the husband of the deceased, Mr. Lucky Okorodudu.
The Judge however ruled that the prosecution proved beyond all reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused person. “I hereby sentence you to death by hanging on the neck until you be dead, may God have mercy on your soul” Justice Ohwo ruled.
