A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, Benue State, on Tuesday ordered that a 40-year-old housewife, Charity Upev, and her son, Tertsea, be remanded in a custodial centre for alleged culpable homicide.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the police charged Charity and her son with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

Magistrate Roseline Iyorshe did not take their plea.

Iyorshe adjourned the matter till February 8 for further mention and transferred the case file.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Inspector Jonah Uletu, told the court that on January 24, the Divisional Police Officer of ‘E’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, received information that Charity and her son beat up Fanen, her in-law living with her.

The prosecutor said Charity claimed that her in-law stole meat from her pot of soup.

The police said Fanen became unconscious as a result of the beating and was rushed to a hospital, but died while receiving treatment.

The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.