Couple allegedly killed stepdaughter, laced her with rope to fake suicide

Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri

The operatives of the Imo Police Command have arrested a couple, Mr. Damian and Mrs. Prisca David who are indigenes of Taraba State, in the alleged death of a 13-year-old girl said to be a stepdaughter to Prisca.

The late girl’s name is given as Veronica David.

The incident happened on Friday at Ogwuaga-Abba in the Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, our correspondent learnt.

The police have since arrested the couple who, until the incident, worked as security guards for a Port Harcourt-based businessman, Johnbosco Ozugbo, in his village house at Ogwuaga.

The Police have also apprehended the third suspect, John.

A village source, Chima Egbu, told our correspondent on Sunday that a rope was also tied around the girl’s neck to make it look like a suicide.

The source said, “The couple are security guards at Johnbosco Ozugbo’s house at Ogwuaga Abba.

“They were living with their stepdaughter until the incident.

“They had always maltreated the poor girl. They were beating her that Friday morning as usual when she slumped and died.

“They then called one John to help them to tie a rope around the girl’s neck for it to look as if the girl committed suicide.

“But neighbours who suspected foul play alerted the Police at Nwangele Divisional Police Headquarters.

“The couple were quickly arrested and the corpse retrieved. The third person was later arrested by the police.”

Their employer, Mr. Johnbosco Ozugbo, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday, said he was alerted that his security guard and his wife, Prisca, had allegedly murdered their stepdaughter who lived with them.

He said he contacted the Police at Nwangele, who quickly moved in, arrested the suspects and recovered the corpse.

“My security guard called and informed me that his stepdaughter had committed suicide and that he needed an advance salary to take her corpse to Taraba for burial.

“I was worried about how a 13-year-old girl would take her own life.

“On inquiry, I was told that his wife, Prisca, hit the girl with a plank on her head and that she died immediately.

“A boy in the compound told me that he saw the woman hit the girl with the plank. I quickly involved the Police and the couple was arrested.

“The boy who claimed to have seen the woman kill her own stepdaughter went with them to the Police station to put it in writing. The corpse is ready for autopsy. I will ensure that justice is served,” Ozugbo said.

Confirming the development in a telephone conversation, the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said he had ordered the homicide section of the Command to take over the matter.

source http://punchng.com/couple-allegedly-kills-stepdaughter-lace-her-with-rope-to-fake-suicide/