By Gideon Njoku
A Port Harcourt, Rivers State based lawyer, Vincent Chukwu, is being rained with curses by angry Nigerians. They are wishing him the fate of the families of victims of his client – a self-confessed serial killer.
Chukwu incurred their wrath not just because he appeared as the defence Counsel to serial Killer, Gracious David West, but for daring to say that West had “very plausible reasons for killing the women”.
West shook Nigeria by embarking on a serial strangulation, to death, of women. He was, finally, arraigned in a Port Hacourt, Rivers State High Court on Monday.
But standing before Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli on Tuesday, after his first appearance on Monday, he shocked not a few when he pleaded guilty to killing more than the number of women earlier thought.
He has always been accused of killing seven women in different hotels – one in Lagos, one in Owerri, and five in Port Harcourt.
During his parade by the Police, on arrest, he confessed: “So far, I have killed five girls in Port Harcourt, one in Owerri, and another in Lagos. I started the killing in Lagos. I took N52,000 from the first girl I killed in Lagos. Thereafter, I went to Port Harcourt, then to Owerri, and later returned to Port Harcourt”
But in court, on Tuesday, he told bewildered listeners that he encountered 10 women, killed nine, and only tied the 10th to a chair.
He pleaded for forgiveness, and said he was possessed, and being pushed by something he had no control over.
Then, he did the unbelievable. He reported the Police to the Judge. He said they seized his things – chain, wrist watch and, the sum of N60,000 from him on arrest. ” Tell them to give them back to me”, he asked of the Judge. Such guys. Nobody in court knew whether to laugh or cry at such request.
The crowd which gathered, to have a glimpse at him, was not angry with him. People had developed an indifferent attitude towards him.
He has pleased guilty in court. So, case closed. That ought to be the natural thing.
But, his lawyer, Chukwu, had a different idea. He felt the guilty plea was not enough to convict him. He says having discussed with him, West had plausible reasons for murdering innocent women. He had a plausible reason for having sex with them, tie them hands and feet, in exchange for their lives, asked them to give him their ATM cards and PIN number, then broke his promise of sparing their lives, and strangled them while they pleaded for their lives?
Chukwu:”The offence in question is a capital offence. Whether my Client did it or not, the presumption is that the prosecution must still prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. So, it is not for the defendant to just say I am guilty and liable, and it ends there.
“Because the punishment is death, the burden is now on the prosecution to go ahead and prove its case, And we are waiting for it.
“My client has a very plausible defence, which we shall open at the appropriate time. We had fruitful deliberations with him in Monday, and we hope for the best in the matter.”
That was the submission that angered some people. Said one outraged young woman who identified herself as Rose: “This lawyer is speaking grammar. He is saying that this killer has a plausible reason. I don’t blame him. If his sister was killed, he won’t be here speaking grammar. I wish him the pains of the families.”
Another, Cecilia, said, “I curse this man. Where did he come from?”
“Blood of Jesus”, exclaimed another. “This lawyer is even defending the killer. He is looking for reasons to justify this heartlessness”.
An elderly man insisted: “Do you know how much he would earn? I don’t blame him. Perhaps, he has no sisters. Lawyers should fear God. They must not defend every case”
But one Mr Green directed his anger at the Judiciary. “This killer has pleaded guilty. Why are they wasting time. Why is the case adjourned? It is a simple case. If you leave them, it will last for ten years.”
But another cautioned: “The Judge knows what he is doing. He cannot convict him just like that, even though he has pleaded guilty. Everything should be documented, else Human Rights people will say nobody gave him fair hearing”
Hon. Justice Enebeli adjourned the case for further hearing, while the Rivers State Government took over the prosecution.
