6th November, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Asaba
A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced a 26 year-old Motor Mechanic, Ekene Ndupue to life imprisonment with hard labour for raping a housewife in the bush.
The court gave the verdict on Tuesday after the accused who was standing trial on a one count charge of rape before the court was found guilty as charged.
The court heard that on or about the 21st day of March, 2012, at a bush at Okwe, within the Asaba Judicial Division, he did have unlawful carnal knowledge of the 48-year old married woman (name withheld) after hitting her with a weapon in the waist.
The incidence happened at a bush path close to the Asaba Immigration Office as the victim was returning from the farm.
Three witnesses were called to prove the case against Ekene Ndupue, including a passersby who heard the shout of the woman screaming for help, who further raised the alarm that attracted people to the scene of crime which led to the arrest of the rapist as they caught him red handed, pant down, in the act.
He was said to have been handed over to the police where he admitted in his confessional statement to have committed the offence but retracted same during trial.
Delivering its verdict, the court held that there was an incontrovertible evidence before the it that the accused committed the offence and was not innocent as claimed.