An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has ruled that the trial of two cousins – Olamilekan Goke and Akande Adeyinka – for the rape and murder of 44-year-old Bernadett Kurucz will begin June 30.
Justice Modupe Nico-Clay gave the ruling on Wednesday and also ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The deceased, a Hungarian, was the wife of the Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Ltd, Gildas Tohouo.
Mr Goke, 33, of No. 22, Elepe St., Ikorodu and Adeyinka, 27, of No.12, Odunlami St., Shomolu respectively, were arraigned by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
The defendants are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, armed robbery and rape.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Lagos State prosecutor, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who is the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had alleged that the defendants conspired and committed the offences on December 8, 2019, at 7:30p.m., at Flat 7A, No.1, Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Mr Onigbanjo said the defendants unlawfully had sexual intercourse with their victim, then killed her and attempted to kill her husband.
He said the defendants killed the woman by suffocating her to death with a small pillow after raping her while her husband was stabbed severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants also robbed the victims of their belongings that included foreign currencies.
He said that others items stolen are two iPhones, two bottles of wine, two wedding rings and one engagement ring.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 173, 233, 230, 299, 297(2) (a) and 411, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Goke was represented by a counsel, A.O. Odusanya, from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), while L.Y. Salau and I. T. Akingbade, from Legal Aid Council, appeared for the second defendant, Adeyinka.