Woman jailed 14 years over murder of baby

CRIME

By Patience Aber

GULU - Gulu High Court has sentenced a 30-year-old woman to 14 years and five months in jail for murdering a two-year-old child.

Agnes Atim was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty to the offence.

The prosecution team was led by the Gulu senior state attorney, Patrick Omia. The case was presided over by Gulu resident judge, Justice Stephen Mubiru.

Omia told court that Atim murdered Ronnie Isala, a child of her late co-wife Collins Aryemo early this year.

He said the suspect committed the crime with malice aforethought on January 9 in Ora-Abim village in Pader district.

Court heard that Atim torched the grass-thatched hut in which the toddler was sleeping at the time. That was around 8pm local time.

A medical examination, according to prosecution, had revealed that Atim was of sound mind when she is said to have committed the crime.

During the court session, Atim pleaded for mercy and leniency while promising not to commit such a crime again.

Justice Mubiru said the crime attracts a death sentence but the two parties reached a settlement during plea bargain, and agreed on the 14 years and five months sentence.

Atim will serve her sentence at Gulu Central Prison.