Plateau High Court sentence five to death for killing ‘witch’

The Plateau State High Court 7 has sentenced five persons to death by hanging for killing an old woman on account to being tagged a witch and also for being accused of being behind some of the mysterious happenings at Kwogu village in Riyom local government area.

The five accused persons were sentenced on two count charges of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The victim Mama Lyop Badung was beaten to death, while the girl who was said to have died of witchcraft was Rachael Yohann.

The convicted accused persons are Yohanna Davou, John Davou, Pam Davou, Pam Dalyop and one other.

Justice Christine Dabup on Tuesday said the witnesses called to testify in the case did not contradict themselves in their evidence, the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt while the police did not fail in their responsibility at all.

Having listened to the counsel of all the parties, with their final written addresses adopted Justice Christine Dabup, sentenced the accused persons to death by hanging without any option.

After the judgment, the counsel agreed that it was barbaric to kill a human being on accusation of witchcraft, adding that laws must be allowed to take their full course. They said that “anybody suspected to be a witch should not be manhandled or killed until the law takes its full course.”