Chidi Samuel|The alleged Port Harcourt serial killer, Gracious David West, on Tuesday, pleaded guilty to killing nine women in different hotels in Lagos, Owerri, and Port Harcourt.
West, who sent residents in the garden city on panic mode earlier in the year was arrested in September and first appeared in court on Monday but his trial was delayed because he was not represented by a lawyer.
At the resumed hearing of the case before Adolphus Enebeli, the judge, the culprit pleaded guilty to killing eight women but pleaded not guilty to attempting to kill his last victim whom he claimed, he only tied her to a chair and the hotel room.
Following West’s plea, the prosecuting counsel, Gladys Imegwu, told newsmen that it was in the best interest of the state for the ministry of justice to take over the prosecution of West.
She said, “The court actually ruled on the application of the lawyer from the ministry of justice through the office of the director of public prosecutions, who made an application to take over the case. It is their constitutional right and the court granted the application; we are not opposed to it.”
“It is for the betterment of the state and we are working together. At the same time, we made it clear that we have prosecutorial power; even the criminal justice law gives us that power.”
Chidi Ekeh, principal state counsel from the DPP office, said the move was to ensure that justice prevails.
“We consider this case a very sensitive one, because of the fact that most of the nine victims were killed in Rivers state; so, we want to send a message to Rivers residents that lives are valued and that such an offence cannot be toyed with,” he said.
“We will prosecute this matter to its logical conclusion and ensure that justice prevails at the end of the day.”
But responding Vincent Chukwu, lawyer to the accused stated that the fact, that his client pleaded guilty was not enough to convict him of the crime.
According to him, “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 a 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 on Monday and we hope for the best in the matter.”
The trial judge adjourned the matter until November 18 and ordered that West be remanded in custody.
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