A 31-year-old man from Ikot Akwa in Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State who turned to a pastor in the courtroom failed to dissuade the presiding Judge from sentencing him to death.
Edidiong Pius Ototi was accused of killing his father, Pius David Ototi, whom he accused of being a wizard, quoted Bible portions, and begged the Judge to forgive him in tempering justice with mercy.
Despite the tricks, Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene, Monday, still sentenced him to death for killing his father.
In its judgment, the court, presided over by Justice Augustine Odokwo, found Ototi guilty of murder, which is punishable by death, under section 326 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.
Justice Odokwo, who was dressed in black with a sentencing cap, held that Ototi be hanged by the neck until he dies, praying God to have mercy upon his soul.
He said the prosecution team from the State Ministry of Justice has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offense.
Ototi had admitted in his confessional statement at the Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, that he killed his father and buried him inside a pit toilet on 18th November, 2018.
Odokwo, in a one-hour judgment said, Ototi had no right under the law to take the life of his 60-year-old father, whom he accused of being responsible for the untimely death of his two grandchildren.
