A High Court in Kano State on Thursday, November 12, sentenced a man, Hamisu Baita, to death by hanging for killing his neighbour’s five-year-old son.
Baita, who lives in Dandago Filin Mushe Quarters, Kano, was convicted of culpable homicide after killing the boy at an uncompleted building and removing his right eye.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado-Ma’aji held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“I hereby sentence Baita to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your soul,” he held.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Ms Ummi Lawan-Tudunwada, told the court that Baita committed the offence at Dandago Filin Mushe Quarters in Kano State.
Lawan-Tudunwada said on that said day, Baita lured the five-year-old son into an uncompleted building at Filin Mushe in Kano metropolis.
“After killing the boy with a knife , he removed his right eye,” she said.
The prosecution called six witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits, including a knife, screwdriver and the defendant’s confessional statements, to establish its case.
She said that the offence contravene the provision of section 221 of the Penal Code.
The Defense Counsel, Mr Mubarak Abubakar, who presented Baita and one other witness to testify, pleaded for leniency on behalf of the man, praying the court to temper justice with mercy.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the judgment, the mother of the boy, Hajiya Maimuna Salisu-Muhammad, expressed satisfaction with the verdict .“I am happy that justice has been delivered . May his soul rest in peace. I am crying because my son will never come back, but I thank God that justice has been served,” she said.
Also, the father of the boy, Malam Surajo Ibrahim-Yahaya, said he was also satisfied with the judgment.
