COURT FREES GIRL WHO KILLED HER FATHER'S FRIEND WHO ATTEMPTED TO RAPE HER
The magistrate court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State freed a 15-year-old girl, name withheld, who was accused of killing her father's friend, a 51-year-old Babatunde Ishola while attempting to rape her.
The decision of the Court was based on the legal advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution that the case lacked ingredient of murder but self-defence.
The presiding magistrate, Philip Adebowale Ojo said the case file after due consideration, has insufficient facts to establish evidence of murder against the suspect contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17, Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State.
The magistrate said that it is settled law that in a case of murder, defences raised by the evidence, whether specifically put up by the suspect or not, must be properly considered.
He noted that no matter how weak or stupid a defence raised by a suspect may appear, it must be properly considered.
Ojo discharged and acquitted the suspect of the murder charge.
The case had been in court since March 7, 2020.
On first hearing, the teenager was represented by the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender (OPD) since the inception of the matter, the period of detention and investigation at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID).
The suspect was earlier remanded at the correctional Home for Girls, Idi-Araba and case adjourned for legal advice of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.
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After the release, the parents of the teenager appreciated the Lagos State Government and Office of the Public Defender (OPD) for coming to their rescue with free legal services.
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