Domestic Violence: Engineer To Spend 15 Years in Prison For Beating Wife To Death

Domestic Violence: Engineer To Spend 15 Years in Prison For Beating Wife To Death

For battering his wife to death a 38 year-old marine Engineer, Nkem Iheanacho was yesterday sentenced to 15  years in prison by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.

The trial judge, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi found Iheanacho guilty of a count of manslaughter contrary to Section 222 and punishable under Section 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Justice Adebiyi in his judgment, on the four old years case, held that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to men who engage in various acts of domestic violence against  their spouses.

The judge also held, “I have taken into account the prevalence of domestic violence in the country and this verdict is to send a message to men who still engage in such a callous act to desist.

“I also took note of the average Nigerian male expectancy age in Nigeria to be 54 years according to the World Health Organisation.

“The defendant was 34 years old when he committed the crime, he is now 38years old. 

“I hereby sentenced Nkem Iheanacho to 15 years in prison with effect from March 13, the date of the judgment,” Justice Adebiyi held.

Before the sentence was handed down, Iheanacho’s counsel, Akaene Spurgeon in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Spurgeon said, “I urge the court to temper justice with mercy, the defendant  has shown serious remorse for his actions. 

“He is a young man and a marine engineer with three young children to cater for,” Spurgeon said.

During the trial, the prosecution for the state led by Mrs O.A Olugasa had told the court that the convict  beat his wife Regina Iheanacho at 12am on May 12, 2013 at their residence at No. 3, Calvary St., Iyana-Isasi, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Olugasa has also told the court that, “He is marine engineer who worked at Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, Apapa, Lagos.

“On that fateful day, he accused Regina of infidelity and he beat her to a state of unconsciousness.

“He did not take immediately her to hospital after she lost consciousness leading to her death in their home,” the prosecutor said.