Six jailed by Lira high court over murder of elderly woman accused of witchcraft

The Lira High Court has sentenced six individuals for the murder of an elderly woman accused of practicing witchcraft.

Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, presiding over the case yesterday, sentenced Opio Peter (75) and Odur Tonny (60) to 35 years in prison each. Their co-accused—Alunga Churchill, Owiny Tom, Ogwang Denis, and Otile Nelson—were each handed 30-year prison terms.

However, Odur Ambrose was found not guilty and subsequently released.
The convicts were found guilty of murdering Hellen Akot, a resident of Abei village, Atule Parish, Chawente Sub County, in an incident that occurred in 2022.
The court noted that Opio Peter, a retired prison officer and relative of the deceased, should have known better than to participate in such a heinous act, especially given his background in law enforcement.

Justice Tweyanze also condemned Odur Tonny, the LC1 chairman, for condoning the murder of Akot, an act contrary to Sections 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act, which prohibit acts of mob justice and neglect of duty by public officials.

In a separate ruling, the same court sentenced Amoni Isaac (27), a police officer attached to Moroto District and a resident of Aromo Sub County, Lira District, over the murder of his lover.

According to court findings, Amoni called the deceased 29 times before going to her home and murdering her. Investigators tracked him down after a police sniffer dog led officers to his residence following the incident.

Other Sentences Handed Down include that of Ocen Nixon who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rape of his daughter-in-law and Oco Martin, a bar owner, was handed a 35-year prison sentence for causing the death of a customer during a fight over Shs2,000.

The customer later died after being rushed to the hospital.