Skip to main content

Nigerian serial killer who murdered nine women in hotel rooms in 'ritual killings' is sentenced to death

A Nigerian serial killer who murdered nine women in hotel rooms in 'ritual killings' has been sentenced to death.

Gracious David-West, 40, was arrested in September last year after several victims were found strangled to death across Port Harcourt, the capital of the southeastern Rivers State. 

They had white cloth wrapped around their necks and waists, possibly indicating ritual crimes, according to police.

The killings sparked outrage and prompted women to take to the streets of the city to demand better police protection. 

Gracious David-West, 40, (pictured) was arrested in September last year after several victims were found strangled to death across Port Harcourt, the capital of the southeastern Rivers State

Gracious David-West, 40, was arrested in September last year after several victims were found strangled to death across Port Harcourt, the capital of the southeastern Rivers State

'I find you, Gracious David-West, guilty of the murder of nine young women and the attempted murder of another in hotels last year and sentence you to death by hanging,' said judge Adolphus Enebele.

The serial killer appeared in court alongside a woman, Nimi Thankgod, who was acquitted over charges of 'misconduct with the corpse of one of the victims'.

Rivers State has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria and several violent cults flourish there.

The victims had white cloth wrapped around their necks and waists, possibly indicating ritual crimes, according to police (site where one of the bodies was dumped)

The victims had white cloth wrapped around their necks and waists, possibly indicating ritual crimes, according to police (site where one of the bodies was dumped)

Rivers State has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria and several violent cults flourish there (police pictured briefing about the serial killings)

Rivers State has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria and several violent cults flourish there (police pictured briefing about the serial killings)

Around 2,000 people are currently on death row in Nigeria but only seven have been executed in the past ten years, according to rights groups.

David-West had been paraded through the streets by police following his arrest with authorities publishing a video on Twitter showing him admitting to the murders.

But, a month later, he retracted his statement and pleaded not guilty in court.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce.  Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home.  Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

Tests may spare school bubbles from isolating: Children could avoid disruption to lessons by being screened for Covid more often under new proposal

Ministers will explore whether children could take more Covid tests instead of self-isolating to minimise disruption to their schooling. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day. He revealed he would discuss the subject with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson after MPs expressed concerns about children being kept at home for ten days – even after a negative PCR test – because a member of their classroom bubble has been infected. It came as the Children’s Commissioner told how pupils had experienced ‘real trauma’ during successive lockdowns. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy where children self-isolate, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day Dame Rachel de Souza described the class bubble system as ‘very very restrictive’, adding: ‘I think everybody would like it if we could get back to normal, as soon as possible.’ Former health minister Steve Brine tol...