Story: Compulsory Marriage - Season 2 - Episode 30

7 years ago

Story: Compulsory Marriage - Season 2 - Episode 30

That one week was the most anticipated one of my life, i started fasting and praying to God for his favour on this case because with the evidence at hand, it might go either way. My parent and everybody close to me were not excluded; in fact my parent told me they have been visiting different pastors and Alfa for prayers.

Judgement day was finally here, we all arrived at the court as early as 10am, court proceeding started around 11am. After listening to final submission, the judge finally come out with the ruling and sentenced me to eleven years imprisonment for man slaughter.

His submission was that even though there might be an iota of truth that i wasn’t the one that killed my wife and there are some people out there after my life and my wife’s own, my defence failed to proof beyond reasonable doubt that i was not the one that killed my wife and for the fact that my finger print was the one on the knife found as exhibit.

He posited that the prosecuting counsel was more convincing because they established that there was actually a feud between me and my wife and the fact that our call log that day shows that we had a conversation like argument which i later ended the call abruptly. Evidence shows that i had something with he person we are kidnapped together which i didn’t deny too.

Based on the submission of both counsel, the judge found me guilty of man slaughter rather than murder because its very possible that the stabbing was a mistake maybe during the process of trying to safe myself. He advised that my case will serve as a lesson to young married couples to learn how to manage differences in amicable ways as crimes doesn’t pay.

As my parent were crying so were Biola’s parent raised curse on me, they was jubilation that finally justice has been served on me, they called me all sort of names that i couldn’t remember. It was a sad event watching my father shed tears for the first time, i couldn’t imagine the sort of torture have put my parent through over the past one year, from one trouble to the other all because adultery, all because of 5minutes enjoyment, all because i wanted to chance a lady i met on the road and thought i could do hit and run on.

After the conviction, i discussed with my lawyer if there would be a case for appeal which he told me was a two way thing, he said it will be a bit dicey, if i win the appeal, the judge might set me free or might reduce my sentence. We will lay claim to the fact that since it wasn’t intentional they should give me leniency as have never committed a crime before.

The sad aspect of it will be if the appeal didn’t go our way, the judge might confirm the sentence or even add more to it with the claim that the judge were too lenient with me. He explained to me that its a risky venture that its all depend on me if i wish to pursue it or spend 11 years which might not be more than 8 years in our normal calendar year. I gave him the go ahead to appeal and let us risk the outcome.

Days are becoming weeks, weeks turning into months, have already spent more than 6 months in the prison after my sentence, life in the prison was another thing entirely which i don’t want to talk about for now. I was so happy when they brought the news to me that my appeal date has been fixed, it was a month and half to the day they told me and i was seriously looking forward to it.

I had an unusual visitor this lovely Saturday; i was in my cell soliloquizing about how my life has been for the past 2 years when suddenly the warder called me that i had a visitor waiting for me, i followed him to the visitors room where i saw someone in small hijab, they told me she was the person asking of me, i couldn’t picture the face from far until i moved closer and realized it was Simbiat

To be continued…