REBECCA AJANI
THE Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, has discharged and acquitted one Olufoye Isaac Ojo, who was charged with raping and killing one Lydia Ayeni in 2018.
The suspect, who was said to have acted under unsoundment of mind, had attacked the deceased in a farm settlement in Ipe Akoko.
The defendant was arraigned on August 26 2018 on a two-count charge of rape and murder, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution lawyer, Stella Adegoke, established that the defendant raped and murdered Ayeni, a housewife at Ilu Ogbe, a farm settlement.
Justice Samuel Bola however ruled that the defendant could not be held responsible for the crime he committed because he did not act with a sound mind.
While giving a blunt testimony in court, the mentally deranged defendant said, ”l was tempted by the way her buttocks was moving as she walked in front of me on the farm. This made me to grab her from behind after which I raped her forcefully.”
He also admitted killing the victim with a stone when she called his name.
The defendant said he had no quarrel with her and couldn’t understand why he got angry and killed the victim, saying, “I hit her head with a stone and covered her body in a shallow grave in the bush.”
His mother, Esther Olufoye, also told the court that while they were living in Kaduna, the defendant would just be laughing and crying without any reason.
She said he began to behave strangely and had even been suspected of being responsible for setting his own barbing salon on fire.
He later ran away from home and was found living at a cemetery, after which he was taken to Ipe Akoko, she told the court.
Chief Medical Director of the Ondo State Psychiatric Hospital, Akure, Dr. Akinwumi Akinnuoye, also confirmed that there was deep seated anger in him, adding that he noticed that his thinking faculty was impaired.
The doctor also said that his contacts with the defendant revealed a psychotic disorder which made him hallucinate and hear voices telling him to do things.
Citing Section 27 of the Criminal Code law, the trial judge said the unsoundness of mind of the defendant was corroborated by the evidence given by his mother of his past behaviour and the account of his conduct by prison officials.
Justice Bola therefore held that the defence had established the insanity of the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
The court therefore discharged and acquitted the defendant, saying he could not be held responsible for his conduct.
His parents were also told to ensure he receives proper medical care.
