A Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) yesterday discharged and acquitted a housewife, Mary Alilu, who was accused of killing her husband, Kingsley Perewe, by slitting his throat.
Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay cleared the woman of the one-count charge of murder in suit LD/5944C/17.
Mrs Alilu spent over four years in detention undergoing trial.
She was arraigned for the alleged offence by the Lagos State Government on November 12, 2018.
According to the prosecutors, Adeshola Adekunle-Bello and Titi Olanrewaju-Daud, the defendant was believed to have killed Perewe “by cutting him on his neck and head with a knife” on or about January 27, 2017, at about 11:40 pm at No. 111, Abukuru Street, Ajegunle, Lagos.
It was said that the alleged offence contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Alilu pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution called three witnesses including the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) before closing its case. It urged the court to convict and sentence Alilu accordingly.
Alilu called two witnesses.
Defence counsel O. J. Akinwale sought to know whether the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and whether exhibits tendered by the prosecution were admissible or should be expunged.
He prayed the court to discharge and acquit the defendant.
The judge resolved the issues in Akinwale’s favour.
Justice Nicol-Clay noted that the evidence of the prosecution witness (PW) 1 &2 were contradictory and that the prosecution failed to link the alleged murder weapon with the defendant or the deceased.
The judge observed that although PW 3 (IPO) claimed that the defendant killed the deceased with a knife, the purported knife was not sent for forensic examination.
“The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted,” the judge ruled. (Nation)