Drama, As 14-Yr-Old Suspected Killer Bride Goes 'Dumb' In Court

There was a mild drama at Gezawa High Court, Kano, yesterday as a
girl-bride, Wasila Tasi, suspected to have killed her husband
(Photo: 14-year-old aw Wasila Tasi'u)
and three others in April, failed to utter a word in court during her trial.

The high profile culpable homicide case that attracted the attention
of the human rights community was nearly stalled by refusal of the
14-year-old suspect to speak.

Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Yahaya was
compelled to enter a plea of 'not guilty' on her behalf shortly after
the charged sheet was read and explained to her in the local dialect.

Wasila, looking perturbed at the dock, was repeatedly asked whether
she understood the content of what was read before her, but each time
she failed to utter a word as the court registrar ran through the
four-count charge of culpable homicide punishable by death under
Section 221 A of the Penal Code.

The decision of the court to enter a plea of not guilty on her behalf
revived the case as the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki,
offered to line up five witnesses to prove the merit of the case.

The presiding judge, therefore, adjourned the matter to November 26
and 27 to continue hearing and also ordered that the suspect be
returned to remand home.
--Vanguard