Driver accused of murder discharged, acquitted

A 43-year-old driver accused of murder has been discharged and acquitted by an FCT High Court in Apo for lack of evidence. The discharged and acquitted driver, Joshua Lawal, was said to have on February11, 2015, at Kurudu Village, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, hit one Sunday Itor with a plank on the head which caused his […]

A 43-year-old driver accused of murder has been discharged and acquitted by an FCT High Court in Apo for lack of evidence.

The discharged and acquitted driver, Joshua Lawal, was said to have on February11, 2015, at Kurudu Village, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, hit one Sunday Itor with a plank on the head which caused his death.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Peter Kekemeke, held that the prosecutor was unable to prove the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt as provided by the law.

The judge held that although the punishment for the offence was death if proven guilty, there was no substantial evidence against the defendant.

He further held that the case was not proved beyond reasonable doubt because there was no eyewitness testimony and death certificate.

The court also held that the investigating police officer’s testimony was not sufficient to sustain the conviction of the accused.

While the prosecutor had maintained during the trial that the offence was a contravention of Section 221 of the Penal Code, the defendant’s counsel told the court that Lawal acted in self-defence and not with the aim of causing death.