Nigeria, July 22 -- A state high court in Calabar, Cross River State, on Monday, sentenced a pastor, Ubong Etim, to death by hanging for murdering his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who had Down syndrome and was falsely accused of being a witch.

Justice Blessing Egwu of the Cross River State High Court No. 11 convicted Mr Etim of murder after ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, according to a lawyer, James Ibor.

Mr Ibor announced the court verdict in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday.

The killing, which occurred on 15 February 2025, triggered outrage among child rights advocates and organisations campaigning against witchcraft branding and violence against children with disabilities.

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