Justice K.I. Okpe of the Enugu State High Court has handed down a death sentence by hanging to Chiamaka Ifezue for the murder of 27-year-old makeup artist, Ijeoma Nneke, on November 11, 2020.
As reported by The PUNCH, Ifezue and her brother, Chukwuemeka, were arraigned before the court on two counts bordering on conspiracy and murder in 2021.
The duo allegedly compelled Nneke to ingest a poisonous substance, leading to her demise and purportedly disposed of her body in the Maryland area of Enugu while they applied a corrosive substance, suspected to be acid, to it.
During the trial, Justice Okpe discharged Chukwuemeka following a no-case submission pleaded by the defence counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor.
The trial judge held that there was no evidence that Chukwuemeka participated in the crime.
However, delivering the final judgment on the case on Wednesday, Justice Okpe said the prosecution proved the case of murder against Ifezue beyond reasonable doubt.
The court upheld the prosecution’s submission, led by Chinelo Chigbo, confirming Ifezue’s culpability in the death of the makeup artist.
The court sentenced Ifezue to death by hanging after she was found guilty of murder.
During the trial, police exhibits, including currency, electronic devices, and makeup tools belonging to the deceased, were admitted as evidence.
A police officer, Sgt. Udeze Oguguo, testified about the exhibits recovered from the crime scene.
Among the evidence was the key to a Toyota Metrix car with number plate JJJ410BJ, allegedly used to transport the deceased’s body from the crime scene to the dumping site.
The officer noted that the car, previously at the Police Anti-Kidnap formation, was unsuitable for transportation to court.
Additionally, hard copies of WhatsApp and text messages exchanged by the deceased with her fiancé and girlfriend at the scene of the crime were presented in court.
