26th February, 2019
An FCT High Court in Apo, on Tuesday, sentenced one Clement James to ten years in prison for beating his pregnant girlfriend, Gladys Gabriel, to death.
Justice Angela Otaluka while delivering judgment, said: “I have considered the plea in mitigation by the learned counsel to the convict.
“The convict is a young man but I hope that after serving the jail term he will have more respect for women.’’
Considering the fact that a pregnant woman is a ticking time bomb that can explode at any time, engaging her in a fight is bad.
“The convict also has no prior criminal record. Having weighed all these factors, this sentence in these circumstances is one that achieves a noble goal of deterrence and reformation of the convict.
“After this sentence, I hope the defendant will have respect for women and this will also serve as deterrence to the society.
“I hereby sentence the convict to a term of ten years imprisonment with no option of fine from the period while he was undergoing trial inclusive.
James, 29, of Sherriti Kabusa, Apo, FCT, was arraigned on Aug.9, 2016, on a charge of culpable homicide.
The prosecutor, Mr Kufreabasi Ebong, told the court that the defendant during an argument with his deceased pregnant girlfriend pushed her after beating her.
He said she died in the hospital on that day from the injuries she suffered during the beating.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 224 of the Penal Code Law.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the offence.