By Abdulaziz M Jauro
The Adamawa State High Court has sentenced a wrestler, Thank-You Grim, to death by hanging after he was found guilty of killing his wife, Kwalla Grim.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Nathan Musa, the accused was convicted on a charge of culpable homicide punishable by death contrary to section 192(b) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law, 2018.
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Justice Musa while delivering his judgement on Tuesday, stated “The prosecution was able to prove with cogent evidence that the convict actually killed the deceased.
“As stated in my judgement, the convict is convicted for culpable homicide punishable with death. My hands are therefore tied. I cannot do otherwise”, Justice Nathan said.
According to the prosecution counsel, the convict from Sili community in Guyuk Local Government Area (LGA), caused the death of his wife on the 24th March, 2018 at their home.
It added that wrestler fought with his wife and used a pestle to hit her in the face in a dreadful manner with the knowledge that her death would be probable of his act.
Neptune Prime learnt that the convict and the deceased who, in the past, had some marital challenges, parted ways on January 10, 2018.
After their separation, the deceased fell in love with another man and decided to get married as a result of which she mounted pressure on the convict to issue her with a divorce letter.
According to sources, the convict who earlier remained adamant to her entreaties eventually, decided to meet her demand where he invited her to his apartment for the divorce letter.
The convict after returning from a wrestling competition which took place in the community pleaded with her to return to her matrimonial home but she refused, and told him that she had “charmed him, and that there is nothing he can do”.
Irked by her reply, the convict picked a pestle and hit her in the face and other parts of the body severally where she fell down, went into coma and subsequently gave up the ghost.
When neighbours heard loud voices in the house and came for intervention, the convict picked a knife and chased them and fled into the bush.
He later reported himself to the police at Chikila in Guyuk LGA on that fateful day where he told the police that he was responsible for the death of his wife and bitterly regretted his action.
In his reaction to the judgement, counsel to the prosecution, Salihu Muhammad, Senior State Counsel I, commeded the court for the sound and erudite judgement.
On his part, counsel to the convict, F. A. Ogbe, Chief Legal Officer of the Nigeria Legal Aid Council, Adamawa state, appreciated the court for what he described as well considered judgement.
