Two men to hang for murder
Nov 03, 2008
THE High Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to death for killing another man. This raises the number of those condemned, since the court criminal session sitting at the chief magistrate’s court started early this month, to four.
By Moses Nampala
THE High Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to death for killing another man. This raises the number of those condemned, since the court criminal session sitting at the chief magistrate’s court started early this month, to four.
Desderio Onyango and Edward okumu killed Absolom Otabong on the evening of January 2, 2007, in central village, Mukujju sub-county, Tororo district.
Justice John Baptist Katutsi sentenced the suspects on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence.
“I have evaluated the evidence on record and noted that there was malice aforethought; the accused persons had prior arrangement of killing their victim,†Katutsi said.
He added: “There is only one penalty provided by the law to anybody convicted of murder. This court deems you to suffer death as the law provides.â€
Prison warders hastily handcuffed the visibly confused convicts and herded them to court cells.
State prosecution led by Philip Musaazi told court that Otabong was hosted by a villagemate to a party. The accused, wielding pangas, are said to have been watching the movements of their victim and, on the fateful evening, kept vigil near the home of the man who hosted the party.
After the reception, Otabong is said to have headed home on foot. However, he had barely moved 50 metres when the assailants confronted him.
Witnesses said a fierce verbal exchange had ensued before they overheard the victim pleading with his assailants. “Onyango and Okumu, you have been my business friends; why are you killing me?†he lamented.
THE High Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to death for killing another man. This raises the number of those condemned, since the court criminal session sitting at the chief magistrate’s court started early this month, to four.
Desderio Onyango and Edward okumu killed Absolom Otabong on the evening of January 2, 2007, in central village, Mukujju sub-county, Tororo district.
Justice John Baptist Katutsi sentenced the suspects on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence.
“I have evaluated the evidence on record and noted that there was malice aforethought; the accused persons had prior arrangement of killing their victim,†Katutsi said.
He added: “There is only one penalty provided by the law to anybody convicted of murder. This court deems you to suffer death as the law provides.â€
Prison warders hastily handcuffed the visibly confused convicts and herded them to court cells.
State prosecution led by Philip Musaazi told court that Otabong was hosted by a villagemate to a party. The accused, wielding pangas, are said to have been watching the movements of their victim and, on the fateful evening, kept vigil near the home of the man who hosted the party.
After the reception, Otabong is said to have headed home on foot. However, he had barely moved 50 metres when the assailants confronted him.
Witnesses said a fierce verbal exchange had ensued before they overheard the victim pleading with his assailants. “Onyango and Okumu, you have been my business friends; why are you killing me?†he lamented.