A Nigerian High Court in Plateau State convicted Thomas Danboyi and Pam Lang of killing Chung Bot in 2010 and sentenced them to hang. The decision was made on Wednesday.
The ruling was made at the Jos High Court by Justice David Gwong Mann, the state’s chief judge. The defendants in State vs. Thomas Danboyi Pam Lang (Charge No. PLD/J112C/2010) were found guilty of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy, both of which are crimes punishable by the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963, which was in effect in Plateau State at the time. The prosecution, headed by Commissioner for Justice and Plateau State Attorney General P.A. Daffi, and a group of attorneys, described how the incident happened on April 26, 2010, at Tahai Gyel Bukuru, which is in the Jos South Local Government Area.
Prosecution evidence showed that Chung Bot and his family were working on their field in Ta Hei, Gyel, when they were attacked by the accused and other people still at large. According to what the court heard, Pam Lang repeatedly beat Bot on the head with a stick as Thomas Danboyi held his arms behind his back to restrain him.
Bot was taken to Plateau Hospital in Jos, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Justice Mann remarked that the evidence was “overwhelming” and that the prosecution had “established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendants conspired to commit this crime and intentionally caused the victim’s death.”
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Failed Conviction From Defendant’s Counsel
Following the conviction, the defendants’ counsel pleaded for leniency, citing their clients’ roles as responsible family men and their good conduct throughout the trial. Justice Mann exercised discretion only in respect of the criminal conspiracy charge, handing down a sentence of three years imprisonment. However, regarding the offense of culpable homicide, Justice Mann imposed the mandatory death penalty, stating he had no discretion to reduce the sentence.
The case, which has drawn considerable attention due to its length since the crime in 2010, is seen as a strong message against violent crimes and vigilantism in Plateau State. The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring justice is served. Legal experts note that the convicts retain the right to appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Unless a higher court overturns the verdict, the sentence will be carried out as prescribed by law.
Source: Punchng
