Husband killer gets community service

Oct 11, 2014

A mother of three has been sentenced to three months of community service for murdering her husband.

 

By Hudson Apunyo 
 
LIRA - A mother of three has been sentenced to three months of community service for murdering her husband.
 
Lady Justice Winifred Nabisinde of the Lira High Court sentenced Apio Agnes, 24, after she pleaded guilty of the offence last week.
 
She will clean around Akalo Health Centre III in Kole district for the duration of her sentence. Apio killed her husband of nine years and father of her children, James Okori, at Omaa ‘B’ village in Lira on July 15.
 
Two months before, Okori had allegedly begun an affair with his sister-in-law (name withheld), an act which is said to have strained his relationship with the convict.
 
Prosecution led by Harriet Adubango said on July 15 at 11:00pm local time, Apio trailed Okori to his lover’s home, where she found him lying on a bed.
 
According to court records, she hit him several times on the head with a club, causing him to bleed profusely. She then left him unconscious, but he was rushed to Lira Hospital, from where he died the following day.
 
 Adubango accused the convict of overreacting and prayed for a deterrent sentence. The defence lawyer, Irene Aber, however argued that Apio deserved a lighter sentence.
 
Aber said Okori started cohabiting with Apio when she was only 15 years, in 2005. This implied that he defiled her, a crime which attracts the sentence of death.
 
She also accused Okori of infecting Apio with HIV, along with two of her children. One of the children was present in court.
 
Aber argued that only Apio could help administer ARVs to her children and therefore, she should not be imprisoned. Before passing the sentence, Nabisinde said while her court does not condone the actions of the convict, it was a case in which the offender deserved more support than punishment.
 
She also condemned sexual relationships with underage girls. She added that it was wrong for couples to have extra marital affairs, especially with relatives of their spouses.
 
“I find that a custodial sentence will only lead her children to an early grave. At only 24, a mother of three, with two of them sickly, my view is that she deserves mercy and support,” Nabisinde said.
 
The judge, however, said Apio would live with the pain of explaining to her children that she killed their father.
 

What residents say


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Caroline Adongo, a credit officer

Apio could have been traumatised since she was infected with HIV and had entered a relationship at just 15 years. He was even going for the sister-in-law. Did he want to kill the whole family? She deserves the sentence and needs support as the judge said.   

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David Munu, 36, a councillor, Kole

The law does not condone murder. Much as the man had infected her with HIV, it did not warrant killing him. Married people should respect each other and be faithful. The three months of community service was not a fair sentence. We should discourage people from taking the law in their hands.  

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The Rev. James Awany, 61, a lecturer, All Saints University, Lango

The sentence was fair. Men should be more responsible. How would you feel if it were your sister or relative? Some men treat women like inferior beings.   

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Apio Christine, 34, a businesswoman

Men can annoy. He married her at 15, wasted her time, infected her with HIV and again, wants to infect her sister. Some men do not respect women. They even go after maids, even when you give them all they want. The judge was fair because she has to care for her children.   

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Frank Oyugi, a journalist

The judge gave what she thought was appropriate. Such a sentence can encourage other women to do the same, as there is a high rate of domestic violence. She should have got three years.  

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Talib Otim, 74, an opinion leader

She should have raised the issue with clan leaders. The judge was so lenient to her. It was not manslaughter, but murder.

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