Court discharges suspect accused of killing artist

Court discharges suspect accused of killing artist

The Enugu State High Court has discharged one of the siblings accused of killing Enugu-based makeup artist, the late Ijeoma Nneke.

Two siblings, Chiamaka Ifezue and Chukwuemeka Ifezue are standing trial for allegedly forcing the deceased (Nneke) to drink a poisonous substance that caused her death.

While discharging Chukwuemeka, the trial judge, Justice K.I. Okpe held that there was no evidence that he actually participated in the commission of the crime.

A court document sighted on Tuesday showed that Chukwuemeka Ifezue was discharged of the crime on July 28, 2022, following a case submission he filed through his counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor.

At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the case could not go on as the defence counsel, Mr Chuma Oguejiofor, informed the court that he had filed an appeal against the continued trial of the case.

The prosecution counsel, Mrs C. C. Chigbo, however, told the court that she had not been served the notice of the appeal.

Consequently, Justice Okpe adjourned the case till November 30, 2022, for the defence to open their case.

The court, in the last two sittings, had admitted into evidence police exhibits in the case of the alleged murder of the makeup artist.

The suspects, who are siblings, allegedly dumped her body near Enugu’s Maryland axis and poured a corrosive substance suspected to be acid on the corpse.

Chigbo led the Prosecution Witness 7, Sgt. Udeze Oguguo, a police officer, in evidence to tender the exhibits.

Oguguo, who is attached to the Independence Layout Police Division, Enugu, said that the exhibits were recovered at the scene of the alleged crime.

The exhibits included five pieces of 20 British pounds, an iPhone 7plus with MTN SIM card, another iPhone device, and a blackberry phone.

Others are a broken 9Mobile SIM card, an itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), an MTN SIM pack, and makeup tools belonging to the deceased.

Also tendered in evidence was the key of a Toyota Matrix car with registration number JJJ 410 BJ, which was allegedly used to move the dead body of the deceased from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped.

The police officer said that the car, which had been parked at the Police Anti-kidnap Formation, was no longer in good condition to be moved to the court.

He also tendered hard copies of the WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) the deceased had with her fiancé and girlfriend, respectively, while at the scene of the crime.

Oguguo also tendered the non-confessional statements of Chiamaka made on Nov. 18, 2020, Nov. 19, 2020, and Jan. 14, 2021, which were all admitted in evidence.

He also tendered the non-confessional statement of Chukwuemeka made on November 18, 2020.