The Federal High Court sitting in Rivers State on Monday found three persons guilty of the 2012 murder of four students of the University of Port Harcourt.
Justice Ledan Nyordee, however, discharged and acquitted four others.
Those sentenced to death are Lucky Orji, a police sergeant; Ikechukwu Amadi and David Obada.
The judge maintained that the prosecution failed to prove its case of murder against the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th accused persons beyond every reasonable doubt.
Lloyd Toku-Mike, 19, Tekena Friday Elkanah, 20, Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, 18, and Chidiala Loroson Biringa, 20, were lynched for alleged stealing of mobile phones and laptops in Omuokiri-Aluu in Rivers State on October 5, 2012.
They had gone to meet a debtor who turned around to accuse them of robbery.
The debtor raised a false alarm which attracted local vigilantes, leading to the gruesome murder of the young men.
