BAYELSA CHECK POINTKILLING: DISMISSED POLICEMAN TO DIE BY HANGING

The State High Court, Nembe Division, Bayelsa State, has sentenced a
former police officer, Mr. Matthew Egheghe, to death by hanging over
the killing of 20-year-old Emmanuel Victor.
Victor was allegedly shot many times by policemen at a checkpoint in
Yenagoa in the presence of his mother, Grace.
Victor and his mother were said to be returning from Christ Embassy
Church on the fateful Sunday, October 16, 2011, when he (Victor) was
said to have asked the policemen to stop extorting motorists.
Egheghe was the second accused person in the murder of Victor. Others
were Inspector Lucky (first accused) and Monday Umeh (third accused).
They were all attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command before they
were found guilty during an orderly room trial leading to their
dismissal from the police.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Lucky Boufili, said the
prosecution proved unequivocally that the gunshots fired by the
2ndaccused person killed the deceased (Victor).
He added that the offence was punishable under Section 427 (1) of the
Criminal Code of Bayelsa State.
Boufili said the prosecution counsel was able to prove the matter
beyond reasonable doubt that Victor died from the gunshots fired at
him by Egheghe.
He also said the pathologist's report indicated that nine shots were
fired at Victor, which made him to bleed internally and externally
before he died.
He said, "There is no doubt that the death of Victor was as a result
of the shots fired at him by the second accused person (Egheghe).
"The second accused solely caused the death of the deceased (Victor)
since the multiple bullets fired at the deceased all emanated from
Egheghe's rifle.
"The accused person is guilty as charged and he is hereby sentenced to
death by hanging."
Egheghe, who did not betray any emotion, was handcuffed and hounded
into the waiting prison van from the Bayelsa State Command.