Rivers court sentences man to death by hanging for murder in Bodo community

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced one Charles Baridolee to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the murder of Gerald Tekena in 2024.

According to court proceedings, Baridolee had been standing trial for killing Tekena following a violent quarrel between the two in the Bodo community, located in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Baridolee was said to have attacked and inflicted machete cuts on his victim after he declined the warning he issued to him to stop giving money to his family because they were no longer respecting him because of the sums of money he was releasing to them, an attack which led to Tekena’s death.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the trial judge, Justice Augusta Chukwu, held that the prosecution was able to prove the case of murder beyond a reasonable doubt against the convict with evidence tendered and a confessional statement by the convict.

Our correspondent reports that Justice Chukwu ruled that Baridolee should be hanged on his neck until he is confirmed dead.

Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, the Chief Prosecution Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Ordu Precious, said the judgment has given hope to the family of the deceased and proven that the judiciary is the hope of a common man.

He stated, “Well the judgement today is a well-deserved judgement. We did our matters from the state very well. We prosecuted and we were able to prove the guilt of the defendant and today the court has given justice to it.”

On his part, the defence counsel, Angus Chukwuka, commended the judge for what he described as a well-considered judgment, but disclosed plans to appeal the judgment since it deals with human life.

Chukwuka said, “The court has done justice to the matter; has given a considered judgement. I think the court seriously evaluated the evidence. But normally, since it’s a murder trial and involves life, one will want to go to appeal to explore possibility of having the judgement set aside.”