Nnamdi Chukwu
AN Umuahia magistrate court on Wednesday found a 37-year-old HIV positive man, Mr Chiemela Victor Ekeke, guilty of defiling a 4-year-old girl in Umuahia, Abia State following his admittance to the commission of the crime bordering on defilement.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Okezuonu Obioma, an official of the state Ministry of Justice, told newsmen that the accused person did not deny any of the 3-count charges.
According to the counsel, the facts were laid before the magistrate court in order to convince the court that the accused persons committed the crime.
The court presided over by Chief Magistrate N. Lekwa found the accused guilty and adjourned till 21st July for sentencing.
Upon interrogation, the convict said his doctor told him he has a small load of HIV that has been flushed out of his system.
Ekeke, a labourer and a farmer, narrated how he had gone to the victim’s home in search of a woman that is related to the victim’s family to pay her the sum of N3,000 he had earlier borrowed from her.
He said upon arrival at the home of the victim located at Ogbulafor Street in Umuahia, he met the children playing in the sitting room.
According to him, while two of the children left the room, he was left with the youngest, the 4-year-old girl, stating that he put her on his lap, playing with her.
He confessed that he laid her on the bed where his hand mistakenly touched her on the private part but denied having carnal knowledge of the victim despite blood stains around her legs.
“Maybe it’s through the touching”, he stated defending why there were blood stains on the baby’s private organ.
“I only touched her for a while. When she said she wanted to go inside the room, I left her”, he insisted.
Mr Ekeke, who after committing the act went to the bedroom of the children’s mother to have a rest, said he was weak and needed to rest.
Eighteen-Eleven Media