Man convicted of murdering suspect in police cell

Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A 31-year-old man has been convicted of murder of another suspect in police cells.

Amos Odyek who was arrested for being idle and disorderly was charged with the murder of Jonathan Opio, another suspect who was detained at Lira Central Police Station. Opio and his brother had been arrested for assault.

While in the cells on 3rd January 2019, Odyek and others descended on the deceased and beat him severely before he was rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police investigations showed that Odyek and other suspects who were in the cell but now at large murdered the deceased. Odyek was arrested and charged with murder.

While appearing in Lira High court on Monday, Odyek was convicted on his own plea of guilt by Justice Duncan Gaswaga, the Lira High Court judge.

He asked for forgiveness saying he will be an advocate for good deeds when he goes back home.

He pleaded: “I want to ask for forgiveness from this honorable court, the family of the deceased and the entire country. I will never commit such a crime because the time I have spent in remand has changed my life and when I finish serving my sentence, I will be sensitizing my community members against committing such offenses.”

But Brian Kalinaki, the state prosecutor argued that having committed the crime within the confines of police cell, the matter should not be taken lightly.

“The offense attracts a maximum of death and the manner in which it was committed, it was in an inhumane way because he fought someone within the precincts of police in police cells and this should not be taken lightly.

“My Lord if someone can assault another person in a police cell it needs a very serious sentence of not less than 20 years because even if he had a problem with the deceased, the deceased was already under police custody.”

However, Herbert Walusimbi, the senior legal officer at Law Development Center who was the defense lawyer argued that although the convict pleaded guilty to the crime, the offense was committed in a group and that court cannot conclusively say that the convict’s blows caused the death.

“My Lord there was no premeditation and the convict is remorseful. He has not wasted court’s time even when the offense was committed in a group, he took responsibility of the crime. He is young which means he can change and become a good person therefore my lord we pray that the convict is sentenced to 7 years in prison and that the 4 years he has spent on remand be considered.”

The convict was further remanded till Thursday 17th March 2022 when he will appear in court for sentencing.

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