An Ikeja High Court president by Justice Josephine Oyefeso Friday today handed death sentence to Lekan Shonde, who killed his banker wife for having extramarital affairs.
“This is the sentence of the court upon you that you should be hanged on the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy upon you.”
Lekan Shonde and his wife had two children between the age of 5 and 6 years and would presently be at the mercy of relatives.
Justice Oyefeso explained that explained that the offence Lekan Shonde committed falls within Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and that it is within the power of a state governor to grant a convict mercy as sought by the defence counsel, I.B Mohammed who held brief for Chief Robert Clarke, the defence counsel.
Trouble started in May 6, 2016 when he murdered his wife, Ronke the murder of two in their Egbeda residence. He was subsequently charged to court for one count charge of murder. His trial began on 20th September and ended on October, 2018.
At the proceeding today, Justice Oyefeso said the prosecution was able to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt in the light of overwhelming evidence against him.
“The violence used by the defendant was in excess of a reasonable man”, adding that the defendant was very economical with the truth, and that evidence before the court that he only slapped her when he overheard his wife on a phone call praising the sexual prowess of a lover does not match the degree of the autopsy report.
The judge reiterated the analyses of the pathologist, Dr. Shokunle Shoyemi that his examination revealed old and fresh injuries on the deceased.
According to her, the bruises on the deceased cheek, blood collection in the brain, brain swelling and other multiple injuries could not have been caused by a self-inflicted injuries.
“I accept that the wife of the defendant died.”
Pleading on his behalf, Mohammed said, “My Lord, we want to plead with the court while administering justice, dispensing same in this case to see reason in this allocutus, to temper justice with mercy, Sir.
“There are two children of the marriage .., I know as a matter of fact, these two children have passed through a worse moment of their life, agonies that are immeasurable. I know if these two children have any control in this proceeding, it will be that their father should not be prosecuted at all, but since not, there wish is this, their father be sentence on a very liberal term.
“The defendant has no criminal record, he has developed series of failing health since his detention. This defendant hardly see very well again, he sees faintly. My Lord, he is hypertensive as he stands there and the authority of the prison can confirm this”, he said
However, the State prosecutor expressed that he sincerely thank the judge.
“I agree we are not aware of any past criminal record of the defendant. In view of the conviction for this charge, there is a punishment, We only ask the court to apply it.
At this point, the judge stood down the matter from 11:53 a.m to 12:50 p.m when she resumed, she ruled that “this is the sentence of the court upon you that you should be hanged on the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy upon you.”
The defendant appeared confused at the pronouncement as he made to alight from the dock.
He was immediately rushed to sit down for a while in the courtroom before he was whisked away by prison official.
