An Ikeja Special Offences Court Tuesday sentenced one Pastor Erinmole Adetokunbo and one Adedoyin Oyekanmi to death for killing a seven-year-old boy for ritual purposes.

Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge, sentenced the duo who changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty,  Monday.

The convicts were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

The Lagos state government said  the convicts committed the offences on 7 June, 2017, at No. 6, Oke Oniburokun St., Odokekere, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The government said the duo cut off the child’s head and buried it under a `church’ altar and threw the body into a canal.

The judge held that the case was pathetic, adding that the duo conspired and murdered the child.

“The defendants have committed a heinous crime and deserve no mercy.

“They have cruelly and intentionally killed a seven-year-old boy. This deprived him and his family of a bright destiny.

“Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State imposes the death penalty for premeditated murder, and I have no hesitation in imposing the said punishment.

”I hereby sentence Adedoyin Oyekanmi and Erinwole Adetokunbo to death for killing Kazeem Rafiu. May God have mercy on your souls,” she said. (NAN)