Dear LIB readers: Guilty or not Guilty? - By Joy Oforka

An interesting article by writer, Joy Oforka. Read below...

The story I am about to relate is one that has sparked off many volatile emotions in me and I want for knowing what emotion to feed, tame or kill. It is for this reason I humbly seek the verdict of you the esteemed people's court.

It was common knowledge that Efe had a temper.  His was the type that could practically cook beans to paste. When he was sweet though, he was really really sweet, cracking you up with a free show of another Basketmouth Uncensored.

But even in those moments, a poorly delivered word or action from a well-meaning fellow could spark off anger bouts that caused one to wonder where the Cheerful Efe went, if he ever existed. On every other count, Efe was near-perfect.

Well, even the temperamental had as much right to love as the temperate. And so it was that Efe fell in love and found it returned more than it was given in Ese. Since, Efe's temper was well-known, you would be right in concluding that Ese knew well of it. In fact, she knew more than the lot of us, receiving its effects firsthand in their courtship - a red eye today, a swollen cheek tomorrow.

When marriage talks ensued, Ese insisted that men have been known to pick and drop certain habits on getting married and Efe would not be an exception. Looking at it objectively, you could accept that that was a truism that was not always false. Ese was always headstrong and not easily swayed on her decisions and became even more so when struck with lover's obstinacy on matters of the heart.

They got married. Ese's foresight had been quite valid. Where Efe formerly gave a red eye, he added a broken bone. This persisted so badly that just three months into the marriage, Efe's beating caused a miscarriage. I and others quarreled and reasoned with Ese to get out of the marriage before they have children and claimed them her reason for staying on. Yet she refused, afraid of what people would say, how society would mock her for becoming a divorcee at so young an age, so early in marriage.

Ese got pregnant again within the five more months of the marriage till it came to an abrupt end on that sad Tuesday. Efe was angry. It was something about who Ese had been with on the phone for so long giggling and whispering. While Ese was trying to ease him and explain it was just an old schoolmate, he hit her and she spat a tooth. Running, screaming and reminding him she was pregnant and another miscarriage would not be forgiven, he chased after her and hit her the more. Eyes closed in fright, Ese picked up the nearest thing her hand could reach and aimed at Efe. She kept screaming for some seconds before she realized he was no longer hitting her and everywhere was calm. It was then she opened her eyes and saw Efe lying motionless on the floor. Her aim had been exact on his head and the object was the iron that had barely cooled off after her ironing. Now, Efe is dead; Ese is in police custody.

I hope this concise narration would suffice in explaining my emotional dilemma. I know Ese murdered her husband but to what extent is she guilty of the murder?