Sylvester Ofori, the former head pastor of Floodgates of Heaven in Orlando, Florida, USA, has been brought to court to begin trial for the murder of his wife, Barbara Tommey. Tommey, 27, was shot seven times in the head by Ofori outside her workplace on September 8, 2020.
According to a report by Kofi Adomah Nwanwani of Kofi TV, Ofori was captured on CCTV in a heated confrontation with his wife at the gate of her workplace before the shooting occurred. Two years after the crime, Ofori was offered a plea deal by the prosecution, but he turned it down. The judge has adjourned the case for trial, which is set to commence on July 15.
During the court appearance, Ofori reportedly showed no sign of regret. He declined the plea deal, which would have resulted in a jail term of 50 years, and instead plans to defend his actions with the help of his lawyers. According to the defense team, the maximum sentence Ofori could face if found guilty is 15 or 16 years. However, if he is convicted, he could face up to 100 years in prison.
Tommey’s family remains devastated by her murder, with her mother unable to touch her bed two years after her death. They are hopeful that justice will be served at the end of the trial, and are expecting Ofori to be sentenced to at least 74 years, if not 100.
“The family remains saddened by the incident. Her mother is worst affected to the extent that her bed remains untouched after 2 years. Her father who is a retired soldier is in pains. They are all hoping that justice will be served,” Kofi Adomah narrated.
As of now, Ofori remains in police custody awaiting trial.