Two Robbers Get Life For Molesting Pastor’s Daughter

Two persons described as “notorious defilers,” Ernest Steve, 30 and Jerry Godwin, 29, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for molesting a 17-year-old daughter of a Pastor, by a high court sitting in Ughelli, Delta state.
The incident took place on November 5, 2007 when the criminals broke into the residence of the parents of the girl at Young Africa Close, Ovwian, armed with a gun and knife.

Prosecution told the court that after robbing parents of the young girl of valuables, they went ahead and had carnal knowledge of the girl (names withheld) serially, causing her severe injuries and psychological trauma.
In her judgment, the trial judge, Justice O. Tobi said the confessional statements of the accused admitted in evidence during trial passed the veracity test and was not in doubt, saying the prosecution led by P. T. Daubry had proved the essential ingredients of the three-count charge preferred against the accused persons beyond any reasonable doubt.
The plea for mercy by the defence counsel, Mr. M. Oshemele, was refused by the court on the ground of law and the mandatory punishment for the offence they committed as prescribed by law was handed down in full weight.