By Ken Chiwendu
Peter Nwachukwu,husband of late gospel music singer,Osinachi has been sentenced to death by hanging.
The sentence was handed out by Justice Nwosu – Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory FCT High Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja, on Monday.
The court verdict came three years after Osinachi, popularly known for her gospel hit ” Ekwueme died” reportedly of complications due to domestic violence
The court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge.
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children and spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel, Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imrisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.
