An Enugu State High Court on Wednesday sentenced Chiamaka Ifezue to death by hanging for the murder of a 27-year-old makeup artist, Ijeoma Nneke on 11th November, 2020.
In delivering the judgement, Justice K.I Okpe, agreed with the prosecution, Mrs Chinelo Chigbo who led the prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecution that the suspect was actually responsible for the death of the 27-year-old make-up artist based in Enugu.
The court consequently found Miss Ifezue guilty of murder and sentenced her to death by hanging
Justice Okpe had in July 28, 2022, discharged Chukwuemeka, Chiamaka’s sibling who was arraigned alongside for the killing.
The two siblings, Chiamaka Ifezue and Chukwuemeka Ifezue were arraigned on two counts charge bordering on conspiracy and murder before the court.
They were accused of forcing the deceased (Ijeoma Nneke) to drink a poisonous substance that caused her death.
The suspects allegedly dumped her body at the Maryland axis of Enugu metropolis and poured a corrosive substance suspected to be acid on the carcass.
In discharging Chukwuemeka, the trial judge, Justice K.I Okpe, held that there was no evidence that he actually participated in the Commission of the crime.
Chukwuemeka Ifezue, was discharged of the crime following a no case submission he filed through his Counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor.
During the trial, the court admitted in evidence police exhibits on the case of the alleged murder of the makeup artist.
Chigbo led the Prosecution Witness 7 (PW7), Sgt. Udeze Oguguo, a police officer, in evidence to tender the exhibits.
Oguguo, who is attached to the Independence Layout Police Division, Enugu, said that the exhibits were recovered at the scene of the alleged crime.
The exhibits included five pieces of 20 British pounds, an iPhone 7plus with MTN SIM card, another iPhone device and a blackberry phone.
Others are a broken 9Mobile SIM card, itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), MTN SIM pack, makeup tools belonging to the deceased.
Also tendered in evidence was the key of a Toyota Matrix Scan with registration number JJJ410BJ which was allegedly used to move the dead body of the deceased from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped.
The police officer told the court that the car which had been parked at the Police Anti-kidnap Formation was no longer in good condition to be moved to the court.
He also tendered hard copies of the WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) the deceased had with her fiancé and girlfriend respectively while at the scene of the crime.
