A High Court judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli has sentenced a Port Harcourt based serial killer, Gracious David-West, to death by hanging for killing nine young women at different hotels in the Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Davis-West, who hails from Rivers, committed the murder between July and September, 2019. His attempt to kill his 10th victim identified as Benita Etim triggered an investigation that led to his arrest.
Presiding over the matter at a High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Justice Enebeli who found the accused guilty following diligent prosecution by the state, said he should be hanged in the neck until he was confirmed dead.
However, the second defendant, Nimi ThankGod, a manager of one of the hotels in Port Harcourt where one of the young women was killed, was discharged and acquitted by the court.
Counsel to David-West, Vincent Chukwu, in his plea of allocutus on behalf of his client, prayed the court for leniency on the ground that the convict was a father of three young children.
But, Chidi Ekeh, the prosecuting counsel opposed the plea, insisting that David-West did not deserve any leniency. He urged the court to ensure justice in the matter.
David-West had in 2019, confessed to killing seven young women; one in Lagos, one in Imo State, and five in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, counsel to David-West, Vincent Chukwu has vowed to appeal the judgement.