An Abuja High Court sitting at Apo has sentenced a police officer, Olotu Owoicho, to 12 years imprisonment for causing the death of one Mrs. Doris Nonye Okere.
Justice Silvanus C. Oriji delivered the judgment on Wednesday about six years after the late Doris was hit by a bullet released from an AK47 rifle held by Owoicho.
Owoicho, a father of four was arraigned on 28 June, 2011 on a two-count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death and also causing grievous hurt by reckless use of firm arm.
The judge found the convict not guilty of culpable homicide, as the prosecution was said to have failed to establish that he intended to cause the death of the deceased.
After listening to the plea of Barrister Noah Imoni, counsel to the accused, urging the court to temper justice with mercy as he had been in prison custody since December 31, 2011 when the incident occurred, the judge sentenced him to 12 years, running retrospectively from 28 June, 2011.
The late Doris, until her death, was a cashier with a bank and was killed while in a taxi on her way to work on January 31 when the convict attached to Zenith Bank, Mpape, shot at the taxi conveying her to work.