Housemaid slumps in court after receiving 28-year jail sentence for stealing

30-year-old Mary John, a housemaid in Lagos has received a 28 year
jail sentence for stealing her mistress' jewellery estimated at N35m.
John was said to have slumped after receiving the verdict, but was
quickly resuscitated and carried out by prison warders.
In her defense, John said she was hypnotised by strangers she had met
on the road and they made her lead them to her boss's residence in
Ajah as they brokethrough the burglar proof door to steal the items in
July last year.
She also said they took her to an herbalist's house and was told to
keep it a secret else she dies.
But the magistrate, Aje Afunwa in her ruling said the defendant had
changed her story from what was in her written statement where she
actually confessed to the crime.
"In her evidence, she confessed to breaking the door, climbing the
house and stealing the jewellery," she said.
"I choose to believe more the defendant's written statement than her
oral evidence which is an attempt to shift the blame to another
person. I believe her oral statement is a figment of her imagination.
"More so, hypnotism or superstition is a phenomenon which is not
admissible in law."
The Punchreports:
According to reports, the convict had been arraigned since September
2012 on four counts of conspiracy, entry, breaking and stealing.
Her mistress, Mrs. Esohe Kadiri, a lawyer, said she stole wristwatches
valued at N9m, bangles and braceletsworth N10m, diamond set worth N8m,
rings worth N3m, chains and pendants worth N5m, and a camera priced at
N100, 000, which all totalled N35, 100,000.
Kadiri, in her evidence before the court said John took advantage of
her travel outside the country to perpetrate the theft.
She said she was alerted to the crime by her sister, andafter
challenging John on phone, she suddenly became incommunicado.
Together with three other witnesses- Kelvin Ikeagwe, Francis Ugbem and
Inspector Patrick Onu- 34 exhibits were tendered to nail the accused.
Afunwa said John did not show any remorse or regret for her action and
hence deserved full punishment for heraction.
She said, "I strongly believe that the defendant stole theitems by
herself with the help of another person who is atlarge.
"In view of the rampancy of such a crime where house helps, clerks and
servants engage in the stealing of the property of their employer,
this honourable court will not be lenient with the accused to serve as
a deterrent to others.
"I therefore find the defendant guilty on the four counts of
conspiracy, breaking, felony and stealing. She is to serve a prison
term of seven years on each count, with hard labour, and the terms are
to run concurrently for a maximum of seven years.
"And probably while serving her jail term, she would have a change of
heart and probably confess as to where the jewellery is.