Mother, son to die by hanging for murder

An Owerri High Court, presided over by Justice Ngozi Opara, has sentenced a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Felicia Uzoma and her 23-year-old son, Mr. Kelvin Uzoma, of Umuozu Ngugo community, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, to death by hanging for the murder of nine-year-old Kasarachi Oforji, who was beheaded in 2006.
Delivering judgment in the case with Suit No HM15C/2007, the presiding judge, Justice Opara, held that the two accused were found culpable of the crime for which they were charged and were sentenced accordingly, in line with the law of the land. The judge declared: “In the face of all the evidence, I am of the view and firm belief and hold strongly that the two accused persons should be banished from the society, in accordance with the provisions of the law of this country. I hereby find them guilty as charged.
You Mrs. Felicia Uzoma should be hanged by the neck till you are dead and you Mr. Kelvin Uzoma should also be hanged by the neck till you are dead. “Meanwhile, each of you will be remanded at the Maximum Security Prison in Port Harcourt, the time, day and place of your execution, will be determined by the executive governor of this state.” According to Justice Opara, the 1st accused person, Kelvin Uzoma, said that he did not do it, while the second accused, Mrs. Felicia Uzoma, pleaded for leniency.
The presiding Judge said that his hands were tied, as the law of the land provides that anyone that takes the life of another must pay the supreme price by losing his life.
SUN