An 18-year-old Beninoise housekeeper, is currently facing trial for his crime after he was charged by Lagos Police prosecutors for murdering his employer's 79-year-old mother.
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The absence of a defence counsel at an Ikeja High Court on Monday stalled the trial of Christian Yavine, an 18-year-old Beninoise housekeeper, charged with murdering his employer’s 79-year-old mother.
A state counsel, Mr T.M. Ashafa, told the court that the defence counsel, Mr Ademola Dire, was absent for undisclosed reasons.
He said, “My Lord, learned prosecuting counsel handling this matter, Mr Akin George, called to inform me that the defence counsel will not be in court today, we hereby seek an adjournment in March.”
Yavine is facing a charge of murder which he denied.
According to the lead prosecutor, Mr Akin George, Yavine allegedly committed the offence on July 1, 2014, at the residence of his employer located at Block 74, Flat 2, Ijaiye Low Cost Housing Estate, Pen Cinema, Agege, a Lagos suburb.
He said, “The defendant killed a septuagenarian, Mrs Mariam Abiola, the mother of his employer, by stabbing her repeatedly in the throat with a kitchen knife.
“The defendant committed the murder after his employer, Mrs Joke Akinsemoyin, left the deceased and the teenage housekeeper in her home to go for a vigil scheduled for 10.30 p.m. in her church.
“When Akinsemoyin returned in the early hours of the morning, she inquired about her mother from Yavine and she told her that she was sleeping in the bedroom.
“When she wanted to go into the bedroom to check her, she was refused entry by Yavine and she immediately became suspicious.
“After a physical struggle with the defendant, she gained entry into the bedroom where she saw the body of her mother lying in the pool of her blood on the bed.”
Akinsemoyin and another witness have so far testified for the prosecution.
The offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye has adjourned the case to March 22 and March 23 for continuation of trial.
-NAN