Airforce sentences Aircraftsman Kalu to death for killing girlfriend

A general court martial has sentenced 21 years old Aircraftsman, Bernard Kalu, to death for killing his colleague-girlfriend, Corporal Oladipupo S.A, at her quarters in Compound 9, Airforce base, Markurdi on suspicion of having an affair with another man.

The Judge Advocate, Flight Lieutenant MA Umoh, listed the eight-count charge against Kalu to include murder, house breaking, attempted murder, failure to perform military duty, loss of service property, disobedience of service order as well as prejudice of service discipline.

Umoh observed that the accused pleaded not guilty to all the eight-count charge, adding that the prosecution brought 13 witnesses, while three witnesses including the accused were called by the defence counsel.

He noted that even though the prosecution found him guilty on all the eight-count charge, the defence, in closing the case, said the prosecution did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering judgment, President of the court, Gp. Capt. Elisha Bindul, who found the accused guilty on six out of the eight-count charge preferred against him, sentenced him to death by hanging subject to the confirmation of the conveying authority.

Kalu, who is to die by hanging had broken into Oladipupo’s quarters, shot her in the neck at close range and also attempted to kill the man he found in the apartment but his rifle got jammed and a struggle ensued.

The man was able to disarm Kalu but the girlfriend died.