An Enugu High Court presided over by Justice I. N. Okpe on Wednesday admitted into evidence police exhibits in the case of the alleged murder of an Enugu-based makeup artist, Ijeoma Nweke.
Recall that the suspects: Chiamaka Ifezue and Emeka Ifezue, are standing trial for allegedly forcing the deceased to drink a poisonous substance, which caused her death.
The suspects, who are siblings, allegedly dumped her body at Maryland axis of Enugu metropolis and poured a corrosive substance suspected to be an acid on the carcass.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, C. C. Chigbo, led the Prosecution Witness 7, Sergeant Udeze Oguguo, in evidence to tender the exhibits.
Oguguo, who is attached to the Independence Layout Police Division, Enugu, said that the exhibits were recovered at the scene of the alleged crime.
The exhibits included five pieces of 20 British pounds, iPhone 7+ with MTN SIM card, another iPhone device and a blackberry phone.
Others are a broken 9Mobile SIM card, itel phone, another black phone (no brand name), MTN SIM pack and makeup tools belonging to the deceased.
Also tendered in evidence was the key of a Toyota Metrix Scan with registration number JJJ410BJ, which was allegedly used to move the dead body of the deceased from the scene of the crime to where it was dumped.
The police officer said that the car, which had been parked at the Police Anti-kidnap Formation, was no longer in good condition to be moved to the court.
He also tendered hard copies of the WhatsApp messages and text messages (SMS) the deceased had with her fiancé and girlfriend respectively while at the scene of the crime.
Oguguo also tendered the non-confessional statements of Chiamaka made on November 18, 2020; November 19, 2020; and January 14, 2021, which were all admitted in evidence.
He also tendered the non-confessional statement of Chukwuemeka made on November 18, 2020.
Meanwhile, the attempts by the defence counsel, Chuma Oguejiofor, to persuade the court not to admit some of the items in evidence failed.
The matter was adjourned until March 22, 24 and 29, 2022 for continuation of trial.