After three years of legal tussle, justice eventually came the way of Titlayo, a female banker who was gruesomely murdered by her husband, Akolade Arowolo on June 24, 2011 after series of domestic brawls.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja yesterday sentenced Arowolo to death after finding him guilty of murder.
Her murder raised series of questions on the minds of right thinking individuals, especially those who believe in the sanctity of marriage before the Friday’s verdict by the court.
Justice Okunnu in the judgment that lasted for three hours held that, although there were no eyewitnesses to the heinous crime, the testimony of the forensic pathologist was sufficient to nail the convict.
Relying on section 316 of the Criminal Code of Lagos, the court identified three issues for determination: whether it was the act of commission or omission of the convict which resulted in the death and whether the defendant carried out the act with the intention of causing death or grievous bodily harm.
All the issues were resolved against the convict.
She said, “Though, there was no eyewitness to the incident, the circumstantial evidence adduced by the prosecution had proved the murder charge against the convict beyond all reasonable doubts.
“I pronounce the defendant guilty and accordingly sentence him to death,” the court held.
After the judgment, Arowolo broke down in tears and began to speak in tongue and shouting, “Jesus have mercy on me. I don’t want to end up in prison.”
Arowolo, 31, was arraigned before the court on December 21, 2011 on a one-count charge of murder.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming that the deceased killed herself.
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