A Police Inspector, Samuel Timothy has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The cop was found guilty of shooting to death one Onyekachi Nwasouba, a graduate of Industrial Chemistry.
The convict, Inspector Timothy and Corporal Obediah Moses, committed the crime on November 10, 2010, at No. 34 Old Aba Road, Port Harcourt, at about 5am, it was gathered.
The deceased, who was into production and distribution of sachet water, was said to have been branded a robber by the policemen, while carrying out his legitimate business.
It was gathered that the convict, who led the police patrol team, shot the late Nwasouba to death despite his plea that he was not an armed robber.
Delivering judgement, Justice Adolphus Enebeli said the convict, who had been standing trial since 2010 alongside Corporal Moses, demonstrated an act of inhumanity.
The judge said going by the testimonies of witnesses (including members of the patrol team) in the matter, the convict was an “inhuman trigger-happy policeman, who engages in murder. A hater of mankind and merciless killer.”
Justice Enebeli maintained that the killing was deliberate.
He said: “According to Section 319 of the Constitution, I do not have powers to reduce your sentence. You, Inspector Timothy Sampson will be hanged on your neck until you are dead.”
The second accused, Corporal Moses was discharged and acquitted by the court on grounds that the policemen on duty that day did not conspire to kill the victim.