Plateau State High Court has sentenced two persons, Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang, to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of one Chung Bot.
The Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice David Mann delivered the verdict at the High Court in Jos on Wednesday.
IIn the case of State vs Thomas Danboyi & Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010), the court found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offences punishable under the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963 (then applicable to Plateau State).
According to the prosecution, led by Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice P.A. Daffi and a team of lawyers, the crime occurred on April 26, 2010, at Tahai Gyel Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area.
It was the prosecution’s case that the victim, Chung Bot, and his family had gone to their farmland in Ta Hei, Gyel, to cultivate when they were attacked by the accused persons with other persons (now at large).
Evidence presented before the court revealed that the first accused, Thomas Danboyi, restrained the victim by holding his hands behind his back while the second accused, Pam Lang, repeatedly struck Bot on the head with a stick.
It was revealed that the victim was later rushed to the Plateau Hospital, Jos, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.
The court found both defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to their conviction. According to Justice Mann, the evidence before the court was overwhelming, and the prosecution, through its witnesses and Exhibits tendered, establishes, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants conspired to commit this crime and intentionally caused the death of the victim.
Following their conviction, their Counsel both pleaded that the Court temper Justice with Mercy, noting that the convicts are responsible family men and have been of good conduct during their trial.
Justice Mann exercised his discretion only with respect to the criminal conspiracy by handing out the sentence of three years imprisonment. However, on the Offence of Culpable Homicide, Justice Mann handed over the mandatory sentence, which is the death penalty, as he has no discretion to reduce the penalty.
The case has drawn significant attention, given its prolonged duration since the crime was committed in 2010. The judgment is seen as a strong statement against violent crimes and the public’s resort to self-help in Plateau State, and it reinforces the commitment of the judiciary to ensuring justice is served.
Legal experts believe that the convicts still have the right to appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as the case may be.
However, unless a higher court overturns the verdict, the sentence will be carried out as prescribed by law.
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