Court sentences 2 to death by hanging for murder in Plateau

A Plateau State High Court has sentenced Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang to death by hanging for their involvement in the killing of Chung Bot.

The verdict was delivered in Jos on Wednesday by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice David Mann.

In the case, State vs. Thomas Danboyi & Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010), the court found the defendants guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, offenses punishable under the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963 (then applicable to Plateau State).

According to the prosecution, led by the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. P.A. Daffi and a team of lawyers, the crime was committed on April 26, 2010, at Tahai Gyel Bukuru in Jos South local government area of the state.

Prosecution said the victim, Chung Bot, and his family had gone to their farmland in Ta Hei, Gyel to cultivate when they were attacked by the accused persons with other persons who are now at large.

Evidence presented before the court revealed that the first accused, Thomas Danboyi, restrained the victim by holding his hands behind his back while the second accused, Pam Lang, repeatedly struck Bot on the head with a stick.

It was further revealed that the victim was later rushed to the Plateau Hospital, Jos, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

According to Justice Mann, the evidence before the court was overwhelming and that the prosecution through its witnesses and exhibits tendered established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants conspired to commit the crime and intentionally caused the death of the victim.

Following their conviction, their Counsel both pleaded that the Court should temper justice with mercy, being that the convicts were responsible family men and have been of good conduct in the course of their trial.

Justice Mann exercised his discretion only in respect of the criminal conspiracy by handing out the sentence of three (3) years imprisonment.

However, on the offence of culpable homicide, Justice Mann handed over the mandatory sentence, which is death penalty, saying he has no discretion to reduce the penalty.