MASSOUD ABDULRAHMAN OREDOLA, J.C.A.(Delivering the Leading Judgment): This judgment pertains to the appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Imo State sitting at Orlu (hereinafter referred to as the lower Court), in a criminal matter. The said judgment was delivered by Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama J., (hereinafter referred to as the learned trial judge) on the 9th day of December, 2015. Therein, learned trial judge found the accused person/appellant (hereinafter referred to as the appellant), guilty for the offence of manslaughter and sentenced her for life imprisonment.
The appellant was charged with the offence of murder under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30 Vol. 11, Laws of Eastern Nigeria (as applicable to Imo State). The case against the appellant was that on the 25th day of October, 2012 at about 10:10 pm, she struck her husband (now deceased) with an object which resulted in his death. The case of the prosecution/respondent (hereinafter referred to as the respo…