The High Court of Anambra State sitting in the Ogidi Judicial Division has sentenced Elochukwu Belonwu and Chukwuebuka Ofokwu to death by hanging after convicting them of conspiracy, rape and the Jennifer Anene murder.
Justice U.I. Ndigwe delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt in the case filed under charge number HID/23C/2021. The court held that the evidence presented established the defendants’ guilt on all three counts, describing the crimes as serious offences that demanded accountability.
According to the prosecution, led by Mrs. Florence Abadom-Igweike, Principal State Counsel at the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Jennifer Anene, a 17-year-old girl said to be mentally challenged, was reported missing by her grandfather, Pius Anene, on November 25, 2020. The prosecution told the court that three days after her disappearance, the wife of the first defendant disclosed that she witnessed her husband and others sexually assaulting the teenager while she cried out for help.
When confronted, the first defendant allegedly denied involvement and claimed he had last seen Jennifer with the second defendant. The court heard that shortly afterward, a mutual acquaintance identified as “Akpuchukwu” reportedly brought Jennifer home unconscious before fleeing the scene.
She was rushed to a hospital on police instruction but was confirmed dead on arrival. A postmortem examination presented before the court revealed bruises, vaginal injuries and evidence consistent with aggravated sexual assault.
During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses; the deceased’s grandfather and the investigating police officer, and tendered the postmortem report, police investigation report and photographic evidence. Although the first defendant’s wife was identified as an eyewitness, she reportedly declined to testify despite being duly served.
The two defendants testified in their own defence and denied committing the offences. After reviewing the evidence from both sides, Justice Ndigwe ruled that the prosecution had successfully established the offences of conspiracy, rape and the Jennifer Anene murder beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering the judgment, the judge stated that the verdict represented justice for the victim and reaffirmed the commitment of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice to ensuring accountability in criminal cases. He subsequently found both defendants guilty on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging in accordance with the law.
