A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim to de@th by hanging for the m¥rder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey.
Etim had falsely accused Deborah, who lived with Down syndrome, of witchcraft before k+lling her.
Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11, Calabar, delivered the judgment on Monday, ruling that the prosecution had proved the charge of m¥rder against the clergyman beyond reasonable doubt.
Deborah’s de@th sparked widespread outrage among child rights and human rights organisations, which condemned the k+lling as another tragic consequence of witchcraft accusations against children, particularly those living with disabilities.
