The Biblical allusion ‘’whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed’’ fulfilled as four police officers from Akwa Ibom State Police Command were, Friday, sentenced to death for killing a motorcyclist in Uyo.
The condemned officers are Inspector Moses Akpaete, Inspector Idoko Sampson, Corporal Enobong Udo and Corporal Godwin Nnana attached to ‘C’ Division of the state police headquarters.
They were sentenced to death by the state High Court where the presiding judge, Justice Ifiok Ukana found the four guilty of conspiracy and murder of one Kenneth Felix Akpan, a native of Mbiabam in Ibiono local government area.
The crime had led to arraignment of the accused who in their defence, claimed that one of them shot the motorcyclist because they were attacked by a gang of motorcyclists.
In his judgment, Justice Ukana held that there was no evidence to prove that the policemen shot the okada rider in self-defence when they were allegedly attacked by the mob.
The judge also held that the decision for them to leave the scene of the incident without rushing the victim to hospital was a clear demonstration of conspiracy and intention to kill the motorcyclist.
He said the law is settled that any person who conspires, abets and assists in the commission of a crime, whether as principal or an accessory, is also guilty of the offence.
Ukana prayed God to have mercy upon the souls of the convicted officers.
