A housewife has been sentenced to death on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, after she stabbed and killed her neighbor during a fight over one chair in their house.
The suspect, Stella Gilbert, is said to have carried out the act in June 2013, at their residence in Ajegunle, Lagos.
As a matter of fact, none of the two women owned the chair in question as it was left behind by a former occupant in the same building.
According to reports, Stella became angry that the deceased, Godwin, did not ask for permission from her before she gave the chair to her visitor to sit on.
An argument later ensued between them, leading to the point where Stella stabbed Godwin on her chest and arm with a kitchen knife.
Justice Raliat Adebiyi, who presided over the case, mentioned that the prosecuting council presented verified evidence the Stella stabbed her neighbor in the chest.
The judge stated, “The chest is where the heart is; the defendant, by stabbing the victim in the chest, a very fragile part of the body, clearly intended to cause the most harm to her.
“The death of the victim occurred as a result of the grievous injuries caused by the defendant. The defendant is guilty of the offence of murder.
“From the evidence given, the fight took place in a room. Though no evidence was given of the size of the room, it could not have been a large room and the evidence was that the deceased and the defendant lived in a house consisting of rooms occupied by families, popularly called face-me-I-face-you.
“It is worrying that the level of violence, unnecessary animosity, and death which occurs among our citizens as a result of living together in close proximity without sufficient personal space and boundaries remain unabated. There is clearly the need to improve social housing and living conditions.
“The court hopes that this message will be conveyed to the necessary authorities through the prosecutors who have the responsibility to prosecute these cases and should be able to provide vital statistics.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
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